Sunrise Highway Service Road Crash Kills Driver, Injures Passenger
Suffolk detectives are investigating a fiery crash involving a garbage truck in East Islip on Thursday morning. The truck overturned on the eastbound Sunrise Highway Service Road, east of the Southern State Parkway, around 11:48 a.m., according to a Suffolk police spokesperson.
The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger was taken to a hospital, but police have not released details about their condition. A bystander’s video showed the truck fully engulfed in flames and heavy smoke.
The crash temporarily closed the service road, which reopened later that afternoon.
Apparent video shot by a passerby showed the truck fully engulfed by flames and heavy smoke.
A spokesperson confirmed that Suffolk County Police Third Squad detectives are still investigating the incident.
Long Island Traffic Crash Statistics
On average, every seven minutes a traffic crash resulting in death, injury, or serious property damage occurs on Long Island. A Newsday investigation revealed that from 2014 to 2023, more than 2,100 people lost their lives and over 16,000 suffered serious injuries in traffic crashes in the area.
To search for fatal crashes in your location, visit Newsday’s crash database.
Author’s summary: A fatal garbage truck crash on Sunrise Highway in East Islip highlights ongoing traffic safety challenges on Long Island.