Police: Staten Island man dies after jumping onto hood of car, getting flung off at high speed

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Tuesday, July 21, 2015
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (WABC) -- A man from Staten Island died after he jumped on the hood of a car and was flung off at a high rate of speed Monday.

Police were called to the scene at Veterans Road West and Tyrellan Avenue in Staten Island at 6:23 p.m.

The NYPD said 24-year-old Robert Kunz followed a car leaving a parking lot on Tyrellan Avenue, jumping onto the front hood and windshield and clinging onto the car as the driver took off. The driver of the car headed north on Veterans Road at a high rate of speed, police said, and made a maneuver that threw Kunz off the car and onto the road.

Police said the driver left the scene and then returned a short time later.

Kunz was taken to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The driver of the car, 22-year-old Robert Messina, also of Staten Island, was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and aggravated unlicensed operator.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident.