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Man Dies After Jumping on Roof of Car in Staten Island, Police Say

By Nicholas Rizzi | July 21, 2015 11:02am | Updated on July 22, 2015 4:10pm
 Robert Kunz died Monday after he was flung from the roof of 2104 Audi, police said. They released images of the car, driven by Robert Messina, to ask for witnesses to come forward.
Robert Kunz died Monday after he was flung from the roof of 2104 Audi, police said. They released images of the car, driven by Robert Messina, to ask for witnesses to come forward.
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NYPD

CHARLESTON — A Staten Island man died after he was flung from the roof of a car Monday night, police said.

Robert Kunz, 24, followed a 2014 Audi sedan that exited the parking lot at 2965 Veterans Road West at about 6:23 p.m., police said.

When the car — driven by Robert Messina — stopped at the red light at Tyrellan Avenue, Kunz jumped on the roof and windshield of the vehicle and grabbed onto it, police said.

Messina, 22, drove north on Veterans Road West at a high speed and swerved to the right, which caused Kunz to be thrown from the car and onto the street, police said. Messina then drove away from the scene and returned some time later, police said.

Kunz and Messina were in an argument before Kunz jumped on the car, and Messina told police he sped away because "I didn't want to stop the car to fight with him," according to court papers. 

Police said Messina was also driving with a suspended license after he failed to answer a traffic summons.

Kunz, who had trauma to his head and body, was taken to Staten Island University Hospital South where he was pronounced dead.

Messina was charged with leaving the scene of an accident without reporting and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle at his Tuesday arraignment, according to the Staten Island District Attorney's office.

His bail was set at $15,000 and he's due back in court on Sept. 1, the DA said. His lawyer did not immediately respond to request for comment.

On Wednesday, the NYPD released pictures of Messina's car and asked for any witnesses to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.