Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
Jorge Arias Reyes, a 50-year-old Hempstead man, pleaded guilty on April 20, 2026, to charges stemming from a devastating wrong-way crash on the Long Island Expressway that seriously injured another driver, according to Nassau County prosecutors. The incident occurred on May 18, 2025, at approximately 7:00 a.m., when Arias Reyes was driving a 2009 Honda Odyssey westbound in the eastbound lanes of the Long Island Expressway near Exit 37 in Roslyn.
Prosecutors say the defendant traveled the wrong way in his vehicle for several miles before the catastrophic sequence of events unfolded. During his wrong-way journey, Arias Reyes sideswiped another vehicle before eventually colliding head-on with a 2014 Toyota Prius driven by a 51-year-old victim, according to court documents. The head-on collision occurred after Arias Reyes had already been traveling against traffic for an extended distance, creating danger for multiple motorists during the morning commute.
Members of the Nassau County Police Department arrested Arias Reyes at approximately 7:25 a.m., about 25 minutes after the initial crash time, police reports indicate. The victim of the head-on collision was transported to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, where medical staff treated him for severe injuries including a fractured tibia and a dislocated hip. Arias Reyes was also transported to the same hospital for treatment of injuries he sustained in the crash.
Blood tests conducted at North Shore University Hospital revealed the shocking extent of Arias Reyes’s intoxication at the time of the crash. According to prosecutors, his blood alcohol content measured .26%, more than three times the legal limit of .08% for drivers in New York State. This level of intoxication is considered extremely dangerous and potentially life-threatening, indicating severe impairment of motor functions, judgment, and reaction time.
On April 20, 2026, Arias Reyes appeared before Judge Howard Sturim and pleaded guilty to multiple serious charges related to the incident. The charges include Aggravated Vehicular Assault, classified as a Class C felony; Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony; and Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, Per Se, an unclassified misdemeanor. The defendant is scheduled to return to court on June 12, 2026, for sentencing.
Nassau County District Attorney’s Office has requested a sentence of five to nine years in prison for Arias Reyes, reflecting the severity of his actions and the serious injuries inflicted on the innocent victim. “The defendant’s level of intoxication in this case was staggering,” said Nassau DA Anne Donnelly in a statement following the guilty plea. “These are the choices that destroy lives. Thankfully, no one was killed because of this defendant’s reckless disregard for safety, and he will no longer be a threat on our roads.”
Location & Road Context
The crash occurred on the Long Island Expressway near Exit 37 in Roslyn, a heavily traveled section of the highway that serves as a critical transportation corridor for Nassau County commuters. Exit 37 provides access to Northern Boulevard and serves the Roslyn area, making it a busy interchange during morning rush hour periods. The LIE in this section typically carries thousands of vehicles daily, with morning eastbound traffic consisting primarily of commuters heading toward employment centers in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
The fact that Arias Reyes traveled wrong-way for several miles before the collision indicates he may have entered the highway at an earlier exit or interchange, creating an extended period of extreme danger for eastbound motorists. The eastbound lanes of the LIE in this area maintain posted speed limits of 55 mph, meaning oncoming traffic would have been traveling at highway speeds when encountering the wrong-way vehicle.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
The Nassau County Police Department’s investigation included obtaining crucial evidence through blood alcohol testing at the hospital, which provided the foundation for the prosecution’s case against Arias Reyes. The .26% blood alcohol reading represents nearly double the .15% threshold required for aggravated DWI charges in New York State, supporting the most serious drunk driving charges available under state law.
The guilty plea before Judge Howard Sturim eliminates the need for a trial and ensures that Arias Reyes will face significant prison time for his actions. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 12, 2026, when Judge Sturim is expected to impose the sentence requested by prosecutors. The combination of felony charges ensures that Arias Reyes will face substantial consequences and will be prohibited from driving for an extended period following his eventual release from prison.
Broader Impact
This case highlights the devastating consequences of extreme drunk driving, particularly given that Arias Reyes’s blood alcohol level of .26% falls into a range that medical experts consider potentially fatal. At this level of intoxication, drivers experience severe impairment of all motor functions, explaining how someone could drive the wrong direction on a major highway for multiple miles without recognizing the error, creating a mobile hazard that threatened the lives of countless morning commuters on one of Long Island’s most vital transportation arteries.