Correction — September 18, 2026: The supporting sources for this archived report were reviewed. Unrelated or unconfirmed source attachments and claims not supported by the retained source record have been removed.
A Hempstead man was sentenced on Friday, June 12, 2026, to five to nine years in state prison for a wrong-way crash on the Long Island Expressway in May 2025 that seriously injured another driver, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced.
The crash
On May 18, 2025, Jorge Arias Reyes was driving a 2009 Honda Odyssey westbound in the eastbound lanes of the Long Island Expressway near Exit 37 in Roslyn. According to the DA’s office, he had been traveling the wrong way for several miles. He sideswiped one vehicle before colliding head-on with a 2014 Toyota Prius driven by another motorist.
The Prius driver was taken to a hospital in Manhasset after suffering a fractured tibia and a dislocated hip. Reyes was arrested at the scene. Blood drawn from Reyes at the hospital showed a blood alcohol content of .26%, more than three times the legal limit.
Guilty plea and sentence
Reyes pleaded guilty in April to aggravated vehicular assault, assault, and aggravated driving while intoxicated. He was sentenced on June 12, 2026, to five to nine years in prison.
Reporting based on Long Island Press coverage citing the Nassau County District Attorney’s office.