Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
A West Islip man was arrested on June 25, 2026, after allegedly driving while impaired and fatally striking a pedestrian on the shoulder of the southbound Robert Moses Causeway near Exit RM2, according to Long Island Life & Politics. The crash claimed the life of Yusuf Gul, 27, of Bay Shore, in a midafternoon incident that drew an immediate response from New York State Police.
At approximately 1:38 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, New York State Police units responded to the Robert Moses Causeway southbound in the area of Exit RM2, near West Islip, after receiving a report of an unconscious male lying on the shoulder of the roadway, per Long Island Life & Politics. Upon arrival, troopers located the unconscious male and determined that he was visibly deceased. He was later identified as Yusuf Gul, 27, of Bay Shore.
Investigators determined that Gul appeared to have been struck by a vehicle while on the shoulder of the causeway. The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) took over the investigation and identified the driver as Stephen M. Aylward, 63, of West Islip. According to Long Island Life & Politics, BCI investigators determined that Aylward had been operating a 2012 Jeep at the time he struck Gul on the shoulder of the roadway.
Aylward was subsequently placed under arrest. He was charged with Driving While Ability Impaired by the Combined Influence of Drugs or Alcohol and Drugs, an offense classified as an unclassified misdemeanor under New York State law. Investigators did not disclose additional details about the specific substances involved or how Aylward’s impairment was determined at the scene, though the BCI’s investigation remained ongoing as of the time of reporting.
No information was released regarding what Gul may have been doing on the shoulder of the causeway at the time of the crash, or whether he had been associated with a disabled vehicle or other roadside circumstance. The inquiry into those surrounding facts appears to be part of the continuing BCI investigation. Troopers also did not release any details about the speed of Aylward’s Jeep, road or weather conditions at the time of the incident, or whether any witnesses were present on the causeway. Anyone with information related to the crash is asked to contact Investigator Marcus Rivera at (845) 303-0290.
Location & Road Context
The Robert Moses Causeway is a major north-south arterial that carries traffic from the Southern State Parkway southward across the Great South Bay, connecting mainland Suffolk County to Robert Moses State Park and Fire Island. The southbound lanes in the area of Exit RM2, near West Islip, represent one of the busier stretches of the causeway, particularly during the summer months when beach-bound traffic surges significantly on weekday and weekend afternoons. Shoulders along elevated or causeway-style roadways like this one present an elevated danger to anyone standing or stopped roadside, as there is minimal buffer from high-speed traffic. The West Islip area and surrounding portions of southwestern Suffolk County have seen a troubling pattern of serious roadway incidents in recent weeks, including a hit-and-run in West Islip that seriously injured a 13-year-old bicyclist earlier in June 2026.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Following his arrest on June 25, Stephen M. Aylward, 63, of West Islip, was charged with Driving While Ability Impaired by the Combined Influence of Drugs or Alcohol and Drugs — an unclassified misdemeanor under New York State law. He was scheduled to be arraigned on the morning of June 26, 2026, the day after his arrest. No information regarding bail, a plea, or defense counsel was included in the initial report from Long Island Life & Politics.
The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation continues to actively investigate the circumstances of the crash. Given that the death of Yusuf Gul was the direct result of being struck by a vehicle and that the driver is alleged to have been impaired, it is possible that additional or upgraded charges could follow as the BCI investigation progresses, though no such action has been announced. Anyone with information relevant to the incident is urged to contact Investigator Marcus Rivera at (845) 303-0290.
Broader Impact
Under New York State law, Driving While Ability Impaired by the Combined Influence of Drugs or Alcohol and Drugs — as an unclassified misdemeanor — carries potential consequences including fines, license revocation, and incarceration, but advocates and prosecutors frequently note that when such impairment results in a fatality, district attorneys can pursue far more serious felony charges, such as Vehicular Manslaughter in the First or Second Degree, which can carry multi-year prison sentences. The specific charges filed against Aylward at this stage of the investigation may not reflect the full scope of the legal jeopardy he faces, as BCI findings could prompt the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office to present additional counts to a grand jury. West Islip-area residents and advocates have already been vocal about road safety following the June 2026 hit-and-run involving a 13-year-old cyclist, underscoring a community already attuned to the consequences of dangerous driving on local roads.