What happened
Nassau County detectives are asking the public for help identifying the driver involved in a Merrick hit-and-run that injured two teenage girls on Sunrise Highway — and have released video of the crash to generate tips.
According to police, officers responded to Sunrise Highway near Merrick Avenue at about 10:30 p.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026. A 15-year-old girl and a 17-year-old girl were crossing Sunrise Highway when they were struck by an unknown dark-colored SUV.
Police said the male driver did not exchange information with the victims and left the scene eastbound on Sunrise Highway. Both teens were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.
Detectives are investigating and asked anyone with information to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS or to call 911. Police said callers can remain anonymous.
The video appeal
As part of the investigation, Nassau County police released video of the crash in a public appeal for help identifying the SUV and its driver — exactly the kind of incident where public visibility can help locate a fleeing vehicle.
Any video tied to a case like this should be treated as a lead for investigators and witnesses, not as a substitute for the official investigation. The confirmed public facts are limited to what police have released: two teens were struck, both survived with minor injuries, and the driver of a dark-colored SUV left eastbound on Sunrise Highway. If you recognize the vehicle or have footage of it, that information belongs with Nassau County Crime Stoppers, not with social media.
Why this stretch of Sunrise Highway matters
Sunrise Highway is one of Nassau County’s main South Shore arteries, carrying fast-moving east-west traffic through Merrick, Bellmore, Freeport, Wantagh, Massapequa, and the surrounding communities. At Merrick Avenue, drivers contend with commercial access, turning traffic, pedestrians moving between businesses and side streets, and late-night visibility challenges.
That combination makes hit-and-run crashes especially dangerous. When a driver leaves, emergency responders and investigators lose immediate information about vehicle damage, direction of travel, speed, visibility, impairment, and possible mechanical issues. For injured pedestrians, even a crash that initially appears to involve minor injuries can become more serious after medical evaluation.
For drivers on Sunrise Highway, the practical takeaway is simple: slow down near signalized crossings, expect pedestrians even at night, and never assume a person crossing a wide arterial can clear every lane before traffic changes. For pedestrians, use marked crossings, make eye contact when possible, and assume turning or approaching vehicles may not see you until they visibly slow.
What investigators are likely looking for
In a hit-and-run case with video, investigators typically build a chain of small confirmations:
- camera footage from nearby businesses and homes;
- traffic or license-plate-reader hits along Sunrise Highway;
- vehicle damage consistent with a pedestrian impact;
- tips from repair shops, neighbors, or family members;
- witness accounts from drivers stopped nearby at the time of the crash.
The public-facing ask is narrow but important: if someone recognizes the SUV, remembers a damaged dark-colored vehicle after May 22, or saw the vehicle traveling eastbound from Merrick Avenue, that information belongs with Nassau County Crime Stoppers or police.
Long Island Traffic will keep watching
This report will be updated if Nassau County police announce an arrest, release additional vehicle details, identify a license plate, or provide a formal update on the two injured teens.
For related local roadway coverage, see our Long Island accident reports, Nassau County accident coverage, and major Long Island road guides. While this crash happened on Sunrise Highway, the pattern is familiar across the region: high-speed arterials, nighttime crossings, and drivers who leave the scene turn a local crash into a criminal investigation.