By Robert Gearty Daily News staff writer
December 20, 2000, Wednesday Sports Final Edition
Copyright 2000 Daily News, L.P.
Daily News (New York)
December 20, 2000, Wednesday Sports Final Edition
(OLD WESTBURY, N.Y.) -- A 38-year-old man who took cops on a wild, high-speed chase was killed when he jumped the center median on the Long Island Expressway in Old Westbury, fled his car and was struck by an 18-wheel truck. Nassau police said the victim, identified as Terence Keenan of Huntington Station, had eight convictions for drunken driving and numerous drivers’ license revocations and suspensions.
The incident, which started at 3:22 a.m., led to the shutdown of the LIE for two hours during the start of the morning rush.
It began when highway patrol officer James Wisekal saw a westbound car pass him at more than 90 mph.
Wisekal pursued the vehicle, a 1990 Toyota Celica, and saw it sideswipe two vehicles. The car got off the LIE at Glen Cove Road, made an abrupt U-turn and struck Wisekal’s vehicle.
As the car headed back onto the LIE, with Wisekal again in pursuit, it stalled.
Wisekal stopped and grabbed the driver’s jacket as he tried to run from the car, but Keenan broke free and ran onto the highway. The truck that hit him was in the eastbound lanes, said police.