Privacy update — September 18, 2026: Identifying details have been removed under our victim privacy policy.
What Happened
A 19-year-old Astoria resident was killed Sunday evening after his northbound motorcycle struck a guardrail on the Wantagh State Parkway just south of the Goose Neck Bridge, New York State Police said. The crash happened at approximately 5:05 p.m. on August 24, 2026. No other vehicles were involved.
The rider was traveling north with a passenger when he lost control and hit the guardrail, troopers said. Both were ejected from the motorcycle. The passenger landed on a grassy area near the shoulder. The rider came down on the road.
Emergency responders transported both to a hospital, where the rider was pronounced dead. The passenger remained in critical condition as of Tuesday, August 25, according to State Police, as reported by the Times Union.
UAlbany spokeswoman Amy Geduldig confirmed Tuesday that the rider was a student at the University at Albany. “Our thoughts are with his family and friends,” Geduldig said in a statement. The university encouraged faculty, staff, and students to access its mental health resources.
A fundraiser posted on behalf of the rider’s family described him as “a beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, friend, and a cherished member of his community” who loved “traveling and going on adventures.”
Location & Road Context
The Wantagh State Parkway runs north-south through Nassau County, connecting the Southern State Parkway to Jones Beach Island. The Goose Neck Bridge carries the parkway over a tidal channel just before the barrier island causeway. The stretch just south of that bridge is a limited-access segment with no cross-traffic, but the guardrail configuration along the shoulder reflects the proximity to water crossings and the narrow right-of-way typical of the Jones Beach corridor.
For current conditions on the Wantagh State Parkway, check 511NY for live updates.