Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
A drunk and speeding driver caused a violent rear-end crash on the Meadowbrook State Parkway in Nassau County early Sunday morning, May 24, 2026, ejecting one passenger and injuring four people total, according to a report by MetroLaw | Robert A. Solomon, P.C.. The collision occurred near Exit M5 at approximately 3 a.m., during the late-night hours of the Memorial Day weekend.
State police identified the driver responsible as Deondre Clark, 35, of Westbury, New York. According to MetroLaw, Clark was operating a Toyota Camry at an unsafe speed when he struck the rear of a Honda Pilot that was traveling northbound on the parkway. The Honda Pilot was carrying a total of four occupants at the time of the crash — one driver and three passengers — all of whom sustained injuries as a result of the collision.
The force of the impact ejected one of the Honda Pilot’s passengers from the vehicle. That individual was transported to a nearby hospital and listed in serious condition, according to the report. The remaining three people inside the Honda — the driver and the other two passengers — were hurt less severely and are expected to recover, though specifics on the nature of those injuries were not disclosed. In total, four individuals were injured in the crash.
Clark was taken into custody at the scene. He was arrested and charged with two counts of assault, driving while intoxicated, and reckless driving, per the MetroLaw report. No further details about Clark’s blood alcohol level were included in the initial report, though the DWI charge indicates he was alleged to have been operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. The investigation into the incident remains active as prosecutors continue to move the case forward.
The crash unfolded during one of the highest-risk windows for impaired driving on Long Island roadways: the early morning hours of a holiday weekend. Authorities have long noted that late-night and early-morning hours on Long Island parkways carry an elevated risk of encountering impaired drivers, particularly on weekends and holidays. The Memorial Day weekend, which brings large volumes of traffic to Southern State Parkway and the Meadowbrook corridor heading toward Long Island’s barrier islands and beach communities, is historically among the most active periods on this stretch of road.
Location & Road Context
The Meadowbrook State Parkway is a major north-south corridor running through the heart of Nassau County, connecting communities such as Merrick, Bellmore, and East Meadow to the Southern State Parkway to the north and to Jones Beach Island and other barrier island destinations to the south. Exit M5, where this crash took place, sits within one of the parkway’s most heavily trafficked zones, particularly on weekend nights when beach-bound and returning traffic is heavy.
Our local incident database currently contains 397 recorded accidents in Nassau County, underscoring the frequency with which serious crashes occur across this stretch of Long Island. The Meadowbrook Parkway’s design — a limited-access, relatively high-speed roadway — means that rear-end crashes at speed carry especially severe consequences, as demonstrated in this incident where a passenger was forcibly ejected from the struck vehicle.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Deondre Clark, 35, of Westbury, faces a serious array of charges stemming from the crash, including two counts of assault, driving while intoxicated, and reckless driving. According to MetroLaw, the criminal investigation remains active and prosecutors are actively moving the case forward. No arraignment date or bail information had been publicly disclosed as of the time of this report.
It is worth noting that in New York State, a criminal DWI proceeding runs separately from any civil claim that injured parties may choose to pursue. As the report notes, evidence gathered by law enforcement during the criminal investigation — including police reports, toxicology results, and field sobriety test records — can often support both proceedings simultaneously. The ejected passenger, who sustained serious injuries, may be among those with the most substantial grounds to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering under New York law.
Broader Impact
In New York, a DWI charge accompanied by physical injury to another person can be elevated to Vehicular Assault in the second degree — a Class E felony — or higher, depending on the circumstances and the severity of injuries sustained. With one passenger ejected and hospitalized with serious injuries, Clark could face upgraded felony charges as prosecutors review the full scope of the evidence. Nassau County residents can monitor developing arrest and criminal case updates in Nassau County through our incident tracker as this investigation unfolds.