Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
A Holbrook pedestrian was left in serious condition after being struck by a northbound car at the intersection of Patchogue-Holbrook Road and Union Avenue in Holtsville on the evening of Wednesday, June 18, 2026, at approximately 7:45 p.m., according to Long Island Life & Politics.
The driver, identified as Robert Steinberg, 63, of Hauppauge, was operating a 2010 Honda Accord northbound on Patchogue-Holbrook Road when his vehicle struck the pedestrian at the Union Avenue intersection. The pedestrian, Jaime Donnelly, 38, of Holbrook, bore the full brunt of the collision. No additional vehicles were reported to have been involved in the crash.
Donnelly was transported from the scene to Stony Brook University Hospital, where the 38-year-old was admitted for treatment of what authorities described as serious injuries, per the Long Island Life & Politics report. The nature and extent of those injuries have not been further detailed in the initial police report, though the characterization of them as “serious” indicates a significant medical event. Steinberg, by contrast, was uninjured in the collision.
Following the crash, Steinberg’s 2010 Honda Accord was impounded by police for a safety check — a standard procedure in pedestrian-involved crashes in Suffolk County that can help investigators determine whether any mechanical defects or vehicle conditions may have contributed to the incident. No charges had been publicly announced against Steinberg as of the initial report.
The crash is being investigated by detectives from the Suffolk County Police Department’s Sixth Squad. Investigators are actively seeking the public’s assistance to piece together the full circumstances of the collision. According to Long Island Life & Politics, anyone with information is urged to contact the Sixth Squad directly at 631-854-8652. Police have not publicly indicated whether surveillance footage, witness accounts, or other evidence has already been recovered from the scene.
The incident adds to a troubling pattern of serious pedestrian crashes on Long Island roads in the summer of 2026. Just one day after this crash, on June 19, a separate pedestrian was seriously injured in a motor vehicle crash elsewhere on Long Island — underscoring the recurring danger that pedestrians face at intersections and along roadways across the region, particularly during evening hours when visibility is reduced.
Location & Road Context
Patchogue-Holbrook Road is a heavily traveled north-south arterial running through central Suffolk County, connecting the communities of Holbrook and Holtsville in the Town of Brookhaven. The intersection with Union Avenue, where this crash occurred, sits in an area that blends residential neighborhoods with commercial activity — a mix that frequently results in significant pedestrian foot traffic crossing roads designed primarily for vehicle throughput. For more on accident conditions on Long Island roads, including current closures and hazard alerts, Long Island Traffic maintains a regularly updated feed.
Holtsville itself has seen serious crash activity in recent months. In May 2026, a drunk driver admitted to blinding a woman and fracturing her skull in a Holtsville crash on the Long Island Expressway — a stark reminder that the roadways in and around this community carry real and recurring danger for all users, whether in vehicles or on foot.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are leading the investigation into the June 18 crash, according to Long Island Life & Politics. The impoundment of Steinberg’s 2010 Honda Accord for a safety check is a routine step that investigators use to examine the vehicle’s mechanical and safety systems — including brakes, tires, headlights, and other components — to determine whether any deficiencies may have contributed to the pedestrian strike. No arrests or charges had been announced as of the initial report. Detectives are asking any witnesses or individuals with knowledge of the crash to call 631-854-8652.
Broader Impact
Evening-hour pedestrian crashes at uncontrolled or poorly lit intersections are a documented hazard across Long Island. The 7:45 p.m. timing of this collision — when ambient light is fading but full darkness has not yet set in — is a window in which pedestrian visibility is often at its most ambiguous for drivers. Local advocates and traffic safety researchers have consistently identified dusk conditions as a high-risk period for pedestrian strikes, particularly at intersections on multi-lane arterials like Patchogue-Holbrook Road where drivers may be traveling at speed without anticipating foot traffic crossing their path.