What Happened
Matthew Schneider, 26, of Selden, died early Tuesday morning, September 8, 2026, after the work van he was driving left Express Drive South, struck a tree, and overturned near the intersection of Maple Avenue in Holbrook, Suffolk County Police said.
Newsday reports Schneider was behind the wheel of a 2018 Chevrolet Express van, traveling east on Express Drive South — the service road paralleling the Long Island Expressway — when the vehicle departed the roadway around 3:10 a.m. The van hit a tree and overturned. Schneider was pronounced dead at the scene.
No witnesses called 911 at the time of the crash. A passing motorist reported the wreck at 5:28 a.m., more than two hours after impact, according to Newsday. Police have not stated whether Schneider was alone in the van or whether any other vehicles were involved.
Suffolk County Police impounded the 2018 Chevrolet Express for a safety check. The cause of the crash has not been announced.
Location & Road Context
Express Drive South is the eastbound service road for the Long Island Expressway through Holbrook, running parallel to the LIE between exits in the Exit 57–58 corridor. The stretch near Maple Avenue is a commercial and light-industrial corridor with limited overnight foot traffic, which likely accounts for the two-hour gap before any motorist reported the crash to 911. For more on crash history along the Holbrook corridor, see our recent coverage of road closures on the LIE in Holbrook from August 2026.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are investigating the cause of the crash, according to Newsday. No charges have been filed and no cause has been released publicly. Detectives are asking anyone with information to call 631-854-8652. The van’s impoundment for a safety check indicates investigators are examining the vehicle’s mechanical condition as part of determining what caused Schneider to lose control.
Broader Impact
The crash went undetected for over two hours on a road that, at 3:10 a.m., had sparse enough traffic that no driver stopped or called for help until 5:28 a.m. Holbrook’s Express Drive South corridor has seen multiple serious crashes in 2026, including a drugged-driving arrest following a motorcycle crash in August less than a mile from Tuesday’s scene.