Privacy update — September 18, 2026: Identifying details have been removed under our victim privacy policy.
What Happened
An 18-year-old man from Mastic was seriously injured on Sunrise Highway in East Patchogue on Friday morning after a westbound vehicle struck him while he was changing a tire on the road’s shoulder, according to Long Island Life & Politics.
The incident occurred at 7:14 a.m. on August 7, 2026. Tyrell Lansworth, 35, of Shirley, was driving a 2020 Hyundai Elantra westbound on Sunrise Highway when his vehicle left the travel lane and struck the 18-year-old, who had stopped on the shoulder to change a flat tire. The circumstances that caused Lansworth’s vehicle to veer onto the shoulder — such as distraction, fatigue, or impairment — had not been publicly disclosed as of the time of the initial report.
The victim sustained serious injuries in the collision. Emergency responders transported him to NYU Langone – Suffolk in Patchogue for treatment. Lansworth was uninjured. Per Long Island Life & Politics, both Lansworth’s 2020 Hyundai Elantra and the victim’s vehicle were impounded following the crash for a safety check — a standard procedure in serious-injury collisions as investigators assess whether any mechanical defects may have contributed to the incident.
Suffolk County Police Fifth Squad detectives are leading the investigation. Authorities are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant information to contact the Fifth Squad at 631-854-8552.
Location & Road Context
Sunrise Highway (NY Route 27) is one of Long Island’s primary east-west arterials, running through the heart of Suffolk County’s South Shore communities. Through East Patchogue, it functions as a high-speed, multi-lane corridor handling heavy commuter and commercial traffic, particularly during early morning rush hours — the time window in which this crash occurred. Shoulder stops for tire changes and breakdowns on this road carry significant risk due to traffic volumes and speeds.
This stretch of roadway falls within a broader East Patchogue corridor that has seen multiple serious incidents in recent months, including a DWI arrest involving a wrong-vehicle case on August 3 and a DWAI crash in nearby Patchogue in June that injured two women.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
As of the time of this report, no charges had been filed against Lansworth. The Long Island Life & Politics report indicates that Suffolk County Police Fifth Squad detectives are actively investigating the crash. The impoundment of both vehicles for a safety check suggests investigators are examining whether any factors beyond driver behavior — including vehicle condition or roadway hazards — contributed to the victim being struck. The investigation remains open.