Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
A Hempstead man pleaded guilty Monday, April 20, to multiple charges stemming from a drunken wrong-way crash on the Long Island Expressway last year that seriously injured another driver, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced. Jorge Arias Reyes entered guilty pleas to aggravated vehicular assault, assault, and aggravated driving while intoxicated in connection with the May 18, 2025 collision near Exit 37 in Roslyn.
According to prosecutors, Reyes was driving a 2009 Honda Odyssey westbound in the eastbound lanes of the Long Island Expressway on the night of the crash. The district attorney’s office said Reyes drove on the wrong side of the road for several miles, creating a dangerous situation for oncoming traffic. During his wrong-way journey, he sideswiped at least one other vehicle before the sequence of events culminated in a devastating head-on collision.
The crash occurred when Reyes’ Honda Odyssey collided head-on with a 2014 Toyota Prius, according to Donnelly’s office. The 51-year-old driver of the Prius suffered serious injuries in the impact, including a fractured tibia and a dislocated hip that required hospitalization. The severity of the injuries underscores the violent nature of the head-on collision between the two vehicles.
Following the crash, Reyes was arrested and taken to a hospital where blood was drawn for testing. The blood analysis revealed Reyes had a blood alcohol content of .26%, more than three times the legal limit of .08% for alcohol in New York State, prosecutors said. The extremely high BAC level indicates severe intoxication at the time of the crash and supports the aggravated DWI charge to which he pleaded guilty.
Reyes is scheduled to return to court on June 12 for sentencing, where he faces up to five to nine years in prison based on the charges to which he entered guilty pleas. The sentencing range reflects the serious nature of the charges, particularly the aggravated vehicular assault count which carries enhanced penalties due to the severe injuries suffered by the victim and Reyes’ extreme level of intoxication.
The case represents one of the more serious wrong-way driving incidents on Long Island in recent years, with the combination of the extended wrong-way travel distance and the high blood alcohol content creating an extremely dangerous situation. The fact that Reyes drove the wrong way for several miles before the final collision suggests multiple opportunities existed for other serious crashes along his path.
Location & Road Context
The crash occurred on the Long Island Expressway near Exit 37 in Roslyn, a busy stretch of the LIE that serves as a major commuter artery through Nassau County. Exit 37 provides access to Roslyn and the surrounding North Shore communities, making it a heavily traveled section of the expressway during both peak and off-peak hours.
The Long Island Expressway in this area features multiple lanes in each direction separated by a concrete median barrier, but wrong-way drivers can still enter the roadway through exit ramps or by making dangerous U-turns at crossovers. The Roslyn area has experienced other traffic safety concerns recently, highlighting ongoing challenges with road safety in the community.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
The case moved relatively quickly through the court system, with Reyes entering his guilty plea approximately eleven months after the May 2025 crash. His plea to aggravated vehicular assault, assault, and aggravated driving while intoxicated represents a comprehensive acknowledgment of the serious charges he faced in connection with the incident.
The upcoming June 12 sentencing date will determine the exact length of Reyes’ prison term within the five to nine-year range. The charges carry significant penalties due to the combination of the severe injuries inflicted and the extremely high blood alcohol content, which elevated the DWI charge to the aggravated level under New York State law.
Broader Impact
The case highlights the severe consequences of wrong-way driving incidents on Long Island’s major highways, particularly when combined with extreme intoxication. The .26% blood alcohol content recorded in this case represents a level of impairment that significantly increases the likelihood of fatal crashes, making the survival of both drivers somewhat fortunate despite the serious injuries sustained by the Prius driver.