Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
Erin M. Henry, 67, of Long Beach, was charged with leaving the scene after fatally striking a bicyclist in East Atlantic Beach on Tuesday morning, according to police. Henry was driving a 2019 Honda HR-V eastbound on Beech Street near Scott Drive when she struck a man riding a bicycle at approximately 7:45 a.m., police said.
The bicyclist was identified by police on Thursday as Tony Thomas, 59, of Far Rockaway, who was pronounced dead at the scene by the Long Beach Fire Department. Following the collision, Henry fled the crash site and continued driving east on Beech Street, according to police reports.
Law enforcement officials located Henry’s vehicle and arrested her at around 10:30 a.m., approximately three hours after the fatal crash occurred. She was charged with leaving the scene of an incident causing a death, which is classified as a class D felony under New York State law, according to the charging document.
Henry pleaded not guilty when she appeared for arraignment on Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead. Her attorney, Steven Epstein, defended his client’s actions following the court appearance, stating that “when the investigation is done and completed, I think that it’ll become clear that this is only an accident. We feel horrible for the victim and the victim’s family.”
The fatal collision adds to Long Island’s ongoing traffic safety concerns. According to a Newsday investigation, traffic crashes occur on Long Island every seven minutes on average when accounting for incidents causing death, injury, or significant property damage. The investigation revealed that traffic crashes killed more than 2,100 people between 2014 and 2023 and seriously injured more than 16,000 people across Nassau and Suffolk counties.
The early morning timing of Tuesday’s crash on Beech Street is particularly notable, as the 7:45 a.m. timeframe coincides with peak commuting hours when both vehicular and bicycle traffic typically increases in residential areas like East Atlantic Beach. The specific location near Scott Drive represents an intersection area where multiple transportation modes converge during morning rush periods.
Location & Road Context
Beech Street in East Atlantic Beach runs through a residential area of Nassau County, connecting various neighborhoods in the barrier island community. The roadway where the collision occurred is situated in an area that serves both local residential traffic and commuters traveling through the beach community.
East Atlantic Beach is part of the broader Atlantic Beach area on Long Island’s South Shore, characterized by a mix of year-round residents and seasonal properties. The community’s road network includes several east-west corridors like Beech Street that accommodate both local traffic and cyclists who use the area’s relatively flat terrain for recreational and commuting purposes.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Henry was processed and charged with leaving the scene of an incident causing a death, a class D felony that carries significant legal consequences under New York State law. The charging document filed by prosecutors indicates that the case centers on Henry’s decision to flee the crash scene rather than remaining to render aid or report the incident to authorities.
During her Wednesday arraignment at First District Court in Hempstead, Henry entered a not guilty plea to the felony charge. Her defense attorney Steven Epstein indicated that the defense strategy will likely focus on characterizing the incident as an accident, though the leaving the scene charge remains regardless of the initial collision’s circumstances. The investigation continues as authorities work to determine all factors that contributed to the fatal crash and Henry’s subsequent departure from the scene.
Broader Impact
This incident highlights the critical importance of remaining at crash scenes, particularly in cases involving serious injury or death. Under New York State law, leaving the scene of an incident resulting in death is treated as a serious felony, reflecting the state’s recognition that fleeing prevents immediate medical assistance and hampers law enforcement investigations. The three-hour gap between the 7:45 a.m. collision and Henry’s 10:30 a.m. arrest demonstrates how quickly authorities can locate vehicles involved in hit-and-run incidents, but also underscores the precious time lost when drivers fail to immediately report serious crashes and summon emergency medical assistance.