A Levittown man was sentenced to up to 18 years in prison for an October 2025 drunken crash in North Bellmore that killed a 63-year-old motorcyclist.
On October 26, 2025, at approximately 11:01 p.m., Patrick Thompson was traveling west on North Jerusalem Avenue near the intersection of Sherman Avenue in North Bellmore when he attempted to make a left turn into a convenience store parking lot as 63-year-old Daniel Bliss was driving his 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle eastbound on North Jerusalem Avenue.
Thompson struck the victim’s motorcycle nearly head-on, throwing Bliss to the ground. Bliss suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. After the crash, Thompson exited his vehicle, looked at the victim, and fled the scene on foot.
The Nassau County Police Department’s K-9 Unit responded to the scene and located the defendant more than an hour later and nearly a half mile from the crash scene, hiding in a tree-filled sump.
Thompson displayed several signs of intoxication. A blood sample taken from the defendant revealed his blood alcohol content was .18%, approximately three hours after the crash. He was arrested by detectives of the Nassau County Police Department’s Homicide Squad on October 27, 2025.
Patrick Thompson, 59, pleaded guilty on February 25, 2026, before Judge Robert Bogle to Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (a Class B felony); Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting (a Class D felony); and Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated Per Se (an unclassified misdemeanor). He was sentenced today to six to 18 years in prison.
“Patrick Thompson tried to duck responsibility after driving while highly intoxicated and crashing into Daniel Bliss’ motorcycle. After the crash, and a passing glance at Daniel as he died in the street, the defendant ran and hid like a coward,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “Thompson knew what he had done and thought only of himself. Now he will have many years in prison to reflect on his reckless actions. Our thoughts remain with Daniel’s family and friends as they continue to mourn his tragic loss.”