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Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
A 27-year-old man was found dead on the shoulder of the Robert Moses Causeway last week after being struck by a driver who was high behind the wheel, according to News 12 Long Island. The victim was killed on a Thursday afternoon in a collision that has since led to a criminal charge against the driver who struck him.
New York State Police identified the driver as 63-year-old Stephen Aylward of West Islip. According to News 12 Long Island, Aylward is being charged with DWAI — Driving While Ability Impaired — in connection with the crash. State police indicated that Aylward was impaired by drugs, not alcohol, at the time he struck the victim.
The victim’s body was found lying on the shoulder of the Robert Moses Causeway near the exit for Montauk Highway, per state police. The specific mechanics of how the victim came to be on the roadway or shoulder at the time of impact have not been detailed in available reports, but state police confirmed that Aylward’s vehicle struck the victim in that location during the Thursday afternoon incident. The crash was reported publicly by News 12 Long Island on the morning of Monday, June 29, 2026, roughly a week after the Thursday on which the fatal collision occurred.
State police are the lead investigating agency in this case. No additional passengers, bystanders, or secondary vehicles were identified in the initial report. No other injuries were reported in connection with the crash. The investigation remains active, and the formal charging of Aylward with DWAI signals that law enforcement moved swiftly to determine impairment as a causal factor in the victim’s death.
Location & Road Context
The Robert Moses Causeway is a major north-south state parkway running through Suffolk County, connecting the South Shore of Long Island to Robert Moses State Park on Fire Island. The stretch near the Montauk Highway interchange — where the victim’s body was found on the shoulder — is a high-speed, limited-access segment that carries substantial recreational and commuter traffic, particularly during summer months when beachgoers use the causeway to reach Fire Island. The shoulder of a high-speed parkway like this one presents extreme danger to any person on foot or otherwise outside of a vehicle. For more on road conditions and traffic patterns in this area of Suffolk County, visit our Suffolk County roads page.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
New York State Police charged 63-year-old Stephen Aylward of West Islip with DWAI — Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs — following the crash that killed the 27-year-old victim, according to News 12 Long Island. The DWAI charge indicates that investigators determined Aylward’s ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired by a substance — in this case, drugs — at the time of the fatal collision. Details regarding arraignment date, bail status, or whether additional charges such as vehicular manslaughter may be forthcoming were not included in the initial report, and this case may see its legal status updated as it proceeds through the Suffolk County court system.
In New York State, a DWAI by drugs charge under Vehicle and Traffic Law §1192.4 is a misdemeanor for a first offense, carrying penalties that can include up to one year in jail, fines, and license suspension. However, when a DWAI charge is connected to a fatality, prosecutors may pursue additional and more serious charges — including felony vehicular manslaughter — as the investigation develops. Anyone with additional information about this crash is encouraged to contact the New York State Police.