Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
A 30-year-old Corona motorcyclist was killed in a multi-vehicle chain reaction crash on the Long Island Expressway early Friday morning, September 26, according to the NYPD. Luis Moreno of 97th Street, just north of LeFrak City, was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering severe head trauma.
Police from the 110th Precinct in Elmhurst responded to a 911 call just before 12:45 a.m. reporting a vehicle collision on the westbound Long Island Expressway at Exit 22A near 108th Street in Corona. Officers found Moreno on the roadway with severe head trauma, and EMS pronounced him dead at the scene.
The NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad determined that a 15-year-old boy driving a black Mitsubishi SUV was traveling westbound when he struck the back end of Moreno’s 2020 Triumph RS motorcycle. Moreno was ejected from the motorcycle and was subsequently struck by a 30-year-old woman driving a 2015 Toyota Sienna. The motorcycle then spun across three lanes before striking the driver’s side rear of a 2017 Infiniti Q50, which was stopped and unoccupied along the northwest shoulder of the expressway.
The crash involved four vehicles total in the chain reaction collision. All drivers, including the 15-year-old, remained at the scene. There was a 16-year-old passenger in the rear seat of the SUV, but no adult was present in the vehicle with the underage driver.
As of Wednesday afternoon, no arrests have been made in connection with the fatal crash, according to an NYPD spokesman. The 15-year-old driver was not taken into custody despite being unable to legally drive in New York State, where the minimum age to obtain a learner’s permit is 16 years old.
Location & Road Context
The fatal collision occurred on the westbound Long Island Expressway at Exit 22A near 108th Street in the Corona section of Queens. This stretch of the LIE has recorded 126 incidents in traffic databases, with recent activity including multiple roadwork operations and overnight construction projects for overhead sign repairs.
The crash site is located near the heavily trafficked corridor that serves as a major artery between Queens and points east on Long Island, typically experiencing heavy volume during both rush hour periods and late-night hours.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
The investigation remains ongoing by the NYPD Highway Collision Investigation Squad. No charges have been filed against any of the drivers involved in the multi-vehicle crash as of Wednesday afternoon.
The case presents unique circumstances given that the initial striking vehicle was operated by a 15-year-old who was legally prohibited from driving. New York State law requires drivers to be at least 16 years old to obtain a learner’s permit, and the teen was driving without any adult supervision present in the vehicle.
Broader Impact
The incident highlights enforcement challenges when unlicensed minors operate vehicles, particularly given that the 15-year-old driver remained at the scene but was not arrested despite driving illegally. The presence of only a 16-year-old passenger rather than an adult supervisor raises questions about how the minor obtained access to the vehicle and whether additional parties could face charges related to allowing an unlicensed driver to operate the SUV.