Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
A 35-year-old Westbury man was arrested in the early morning hours of Sunday, May 24, 2026, after a speeding and drunk-driving crash on the northbound Meadowbrook State Parkway ejected one passenger and left that person seriously injured, according to New York State Police. The incident unfolded near Exit M5 at approximately 3 a.m., in what authorities are characterizing as a preventable, alcohol-fueled collision during one of the year’s highest-traffic holiday weekends.
According to News 12 Long Island, the suspect — identified as Deondre Clark — was operating a Toyota Camry northbound on the parkway when he struck the rear of a Honda Pilot that was also traveling northbound near Exit M5. State police say Clark was driving at an unsafe speed at the time of the collision. The Honda Pilot was carrying a total of four people: a driver and three passengers.
The impact was severe enough to eject one of the Honda’s passengers from the vehicle. That individual was transported to a hospital and is listed in serious condition, per News 12 Long Island. The remaining three occupants of the Honda Pilot — the driver and the other two passengers — were treated for minor injuries. No injuries to Clark were reported in the initial accounts from state police.
Clark, a resident of Westbury, was taken into custody at the scene. He was arrested and charged with two counts of assault, driving while intoxicated, and reckless driving. His age, 35, and his Westbury address were confirmed by state police. The investigation into the crash remains ongoing, according to authorities.
The crash occurred during the Memorial Day weekend, a period historically marked by elevated traffic volume and increased enforcement activity across Long Island’s parkway system. New York State Police routinely ramp up DWI patrols and sobriety checkpoints during holiday weekends, making this early-morning incident a stark example of the risks that persist despite heightened law enforcement presence. The 3 a.m. timeframe — deep into Saturday night and Sunday morning — falls squarely within the window that traffic safety researchers and law enforcement agencies consistently identify as the highest-risk period for alcohol-related crashes.
Location & Road Context
The crash took place on the northbound Meadowbrook State Parkway near Exit M5, a stretch of roadway that connects the heavily populated communities of Nassau County to Jones Beach Island and the broader Southern State Parkway corridor. The Meadowbrook is a major north-south artery running through central Nassau County, carrying significant recreational and commuter traffic year-round — and especially on summer holiday weekends when beachgoers flood the route.
Long Island Traffic’s own database reflects the parkway’s persistent safety challenges: the Meadowbrook State Parkway has 134 recorded incidents in our records, and May 24, 2026 alone saw multiple separate crash reports on the corridor, including a property-damage accident at Exit M2E southbound and a separate property-damage incident at Exit M6 toward the Southern State Parkway westbound. Ongoing barrier repairs, bridge painting, and overnight roadwork were also active on the parkway as of that same date, adding another layer of complexity to an already-busy travel corridor.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Deondre Clark, 35, of Westbury, was formally arrested and charged on four counts: two counts of assault, one count of driving while intoxicated, and one count of reckless driving. The dual assault charges reflect the legal weight of the serious injury to the ejected passenger, as New York law permits assault charges when a driver’s intoxicated or reckless conduct causes physical harm to others. According to News 12 Long Island, the investigation is ongoing, suggesting that additional charges or findings may emerge as state police complete their review of the crash scene, vehicle data, and toxicology results.
No arraignment date, bail amount, or court appearance information had been released as of the time of publication. It is also not yet confirmed whether Clark was represented by counsel at the time of his arrest. Anyone with additional information about this incident is encouraged to contact the New York State Police.
Broader Impact
Under New York State law, a DWI conviction combined with assault charges — particularly where serious physical injury is involved — can elevate the offense to felony-level assault in the second degree, which carries a potential sentence of up to seven years in state prison. The fact that Clark faces two assault counts suggests that prosecutors may be accounting for more than one victim who sustained injury in the crash. Drivers in New York convicted of felony DWI-related assault also face mandatory license revocation and are ineligible for conditional driving privileges during any period of incarceration, underscoring the compounding legal consequences of impaired driving at high speed on a state parkway.