May 7, 2002 By Jennifer Harr 2 min read

Daniel Bogol testified Monday that he heard a thump as his friend, David J. Long, hit something along Route 166 as the two headed home from a gas and cigarette run around 1 a.m. last April. “He said he thought it was a garbage bag,” testified Bogol, who said that Long kept going.

State police allege Long hit and killed George L. Tringes Jr. that night as he drove to a Ralph residence.

Bogol testified that he was not sure what Long, 25, of Grindstone hit, but said, “I seen a little piece of something go around the car on my side.”

Bogol was in the front passenger seat.

The two got back to Long’s residence, testified Bogol, and Long told him he was going to go see what got hit.

“He got in his car and left and I passed out on the floor,” Bogol told defense attorney Martha Bailor.

The two had been drinking socially since around 2 p.m. on April 22, 2001, said Bogol. The accident occurred around 12:30 a.m. on April 23, 2001.

Bogol testified that he and Long were talking when Long suddenly veered to the left. That was just before the thump, said Bogol.

At the time he hit something, Bogol testified Long had been looking at him for several seconds, talking.

In the days following, Bogol said he saw a media report from state police. The report detailed Tringes death, and asked anyone with information to come forward.

Bogol contacted police, he testified, and told them about what happened the night he and Long went out.

Long was charged with homicide by vehicle, careless driving and failure to drive a vehicle at a safe speed.

His vehicle, a 1987 Pontiac sedan, was taken so that police could collect samples from the vehicle. Authorities also hoped to match broken tail light remnants taken from the scene to the vehicle.

Testimony in that respect is expected today.

First Administrative Assistant District Attorney John A. Kopas III is prosecuting the case before Judge Steve P. Leskinen.