Crime & Safety
Pat-Med Alum Killed In Crash Was Member of 'Boots On The Ground'
Christopher White was just returning from escorting WWII vets to the airport for a flight to Washington D.C.
The Medford man who was killed in a motorcycle crash on Veterans Highway on Saturday was a member of "Boots On The Ground" a veterans advocacy group that provides escort and other services to veterans, police said.
According to police, Christopher White, 44, of Medford had just participated in an "Honor Flight Escort" for a group of WWII veterans that were flying to Washington D.C. from MacArthur Airport when he was killed.
White was at the intersection of Johnson Avenue and Veterans Highway when Paul Porrini, 55, of Selden allegedly ran through a red light while heading westbound in a Chevy Express van and struck White and three other vehicles at around 7:15 a.m. on Saturday.
White was rushed to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore where he was pronounced dead. Four people in the other vehicles involved in the accident were taken to Southside and Brookhaven Memorial hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries.
Porrini was arrested and charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs. Police are continuing to investigate the accident.
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