Kings Park-youth takes car and crashes, killing brother

September 11, 1988. Tragedy struck early this morning as a 13 year old Kings Park boy, Patrick Conley, was killed as he allegedly tried to stop his older brother, Christopher Conley from taking the family car.

Christopher has neither a drivers license nor a permit. Fifteen year old Christopher apparently had returned home late Saturday night sporting a Mohawk haircut. According to a spokesperson from the 4th precinct, an argument over the haircut insued between the boy and his parents. About 2AM, a neighbor and friend of the Conley’s, William Macchione, was awakened by “kids hanging out outside drinking”. Macciones wife denise said that some bottles were thrown and her two children, aged four and eight were awakened. Her husband got up to calm the children. While doing so, he heard more noise outside. Macchione states that he saw Christopher enter the family car, with Patrick following closely behind, trying to talk him out of taking the car. Patrick entered the car also and they sped off.

Macchione called over to the boys parents to advise him of what he saw. The boys father jumped into their other vehicle in an attempt to track the boys down. By the time they were located, Christopher had crashed on Indian Head Road while traveling at a high rate of speed and losing control near LaSalle Lane. The car hit a tree, spun off and hit a utility pole. Both boys were ejected from the vehicle. Patrick was pronounced dead at the scene. Christopher was rushed to St. Johns Hospital in critical condition. Smithtown Messenger