What Happened
A two-vehicle hit-and-run collision was reported Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at Exit 40 of the Southern State Parkway Eastbound — the ramp connecting to Robert Moses Causeway Southbound — according to a New York State Police incident record logged by longislandtraffic.com. The crash was categorized as moderate in severity. One of the two vehicles involved left the scene following the collision, a criminal act under New York State law.
Beyond the basic incident record, the New York State Police have not publicly released the identities of the drivers, the types of vehicles involved, the direction either vehicle was traveling prior to impact, or whether any occupants were transported for medical care. The investigation was active as of the time this report was filed.
No time of day was specified in the official incident record. August 4 was a Tuesday — notably, Exit 40 at Robert Moses Causeway is one of the busiest exit ramps on Long Island during summer months, as it serves as the primary parkway gateway to Robert Moses State Park and Jones Beach area beaches. Peak beach traffic on a summer weekday can extend through late morning and into early afternoon hours.
Location & Road Context
Exit 40 of the Southern State Parkway sits at the southwestern end of the parkway, where the roadway funnels eastbound traffic onto Robert Moses Causeway heading south toward Fire Island and Robert Moses State Park. The ramp is a high-volume merge point that concentrates heavy recreational traffic during summer weekends and weekdays alike. The Southern State Parkway is one of Long Island’s most traveled limited-access roads, and Long Island Traffic’s database shows 891 recorded incidents on this corridor — a figure that reflects its year-round traffic density.
The week of this crash was particularly active for incidents along the parkway. A major crash on the Southern State Parkway was also recorded on August 4, and a moderate-severity crash followed the next day, August 5 — the same day roadwork was also active on the corridor. A minor crash on August 5 and a moderate crash on August 3 round out a five-day stretch of sustained incident activity on this stretch of roadway.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
The New York State Police are the investigating agency, as the Southern State Parkway falls under state jurisdiction. Leaving the scene of a property damage accident in New York is a misdemeanor under Vehicle and Traffic Law § 600; if any occupant suffered injury, fleeing the scene escalates to a class D felony carrying up to seven years in prison. No charges, arrests, or suspect descriptions have been publicly announced at this time.
Anyone with information about the vehicle that fled the scene is encouraged to contact the New York State Police.
Broader Impact
Exit 40’s position as the sole parkway exit feeding Robert Moses Causeway means even a brief traffic disruption there during summer can ripple back significantly along the eastbound Southern State. Drivers heading to Robert Moses State Park or Fire Island Ferries should check 511NY for real-time conditions before approaching this interchange on summer travel days.