May 24, 2026. A passenger was ejected and seriously injured early Sunday morning after a drunk driver allegedly rear-ended a Honda Pilot at high speed on the Meadowbrook State Parkway near Exit M5. The driver, Deondre Clark, 35, of Westbury, has been arrested and charged with two counts of assault, DWI, and reckless driving.
What Happened
At approximately 3:00 AM on Sunday, May 24, Clark was driving a Toyota Camry northbound on the Meadowbrook State Parkway when he allegedly struck the rear of a Honda Pilot near Exit M5 (Merrick Avenue / Front Street). New York State Police say Clark was traveling at an unsafe speed and was intoxicated at the time of the collision.
The Honda Pilot was carrying a driver and three passengers. The force of the rear-end impact ejected one passenger from the vehicle. That passenger was rushed to a hospital with serious injuries. The remaining three occupants of the Honda sustained minor injuries.
Clark was arrested at the scene.
The Charges
| Charge | Class | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Assault (2 counts) | Felony (likely 2nd degree) | Causing serious physical injury through reckless conduct |
| Driving While Intoxicated | Misdemeanor (or felony if prior convictions) | Operating under the influence |
| Reckless Driving | Misdemeanor (VTL §1212) | Driving in a manner that unreasonably interferes with the use of the road |
The two assault charges elevate this from a standard DWI case. Under New York Penal Law §120.05, Assault in the Second Degree for recklessly causing serious physical injury with a deadly instrument (the vehicle) is a Class D felony carrying up to 7 years in prison. If Clark has prior DWI convictions, the intoxication charge could also be elevated to a felony under Leandra’s Law.
Ejection = Catastrophic Outcomes
Ejection crashes are among the most lethal in traffic safety data. According to NHTSA, occupants who are partially or fully ejected in a crash are significantly more likely to die than those who remain inside the vehicle. Seatbelt use is the single most important factor — unbelted occupants are 30 times more likely to be ejected.
New York State Police have not disclosed whether the ejected passenger was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision.
Meadowbrook State Parkway — A High-Speed Corridor
The Meadowbrook State Parkway runs north-south through central Nassau County, connecting the Southern State Parkway to the Northern State Parkway and serving as a primary route to Jones Beach. The stretch near Exit M5 is a high-speed section with limited lighting during overnight hours — conditions that compound the danger of impaired driving.
This is the second major crash on the Meadowbrook this weekend — an earlier incident near Exit M2E also required investigation and lane closures.
For more on the Meadowbrook’s crash history and safety profile, see our Meadowbrook State Parkway road guide.
Were You Injured by a Drunk Driver?
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The investigation is ongoing. The ejected passenger’s identity and condition have not been updated by police.
Source: News 12 Long Island | New York State Police