Jordan Rosen, 42, of Oceanside indicted in fatal road rage crash, Queens DA says

An Oceanside man pleaded not guilty Friday to second-degree murder and other charges stemming from a road rage incident on the Long Island Expressway in Rego Park, Queens, during which he allegedly ran over and killed a motorcyclist, officials said.

Jordan Rosen, 42, followed, struck and killed motorcyclist William McField, 55, of Astoria, Queens, shortly after their vehicles made contact with one another while driving on an expressway exit ramp, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.

The road rage incident began around 9:21 a.m. on April 5, when Rosen was driving a 2024 BMW iX SUV on the eastbound exit ramp of the LIE headed toward Woodhaven Boulevard in Elmhurst, according to a news release from Katz’s office. McField was operating a 2023 KTM motorcycle on the same roadway, Exit 19, at the same time.

The two vehicles were involved in a “minor collision,” Katz said in a statement, before McField drove past Rosen and through a red light, heading south on Woodhaven Boulevard. Rosen similarly drove through the red light and followed the motorcyclist.

McField then “maneuvered his motorcycle to the left side of the road, which was marked by zebra stripes and not laned for traffic,” according to the district attorney’s office. Rosen also entered the area not meant for traffic, accelerated and “plowed his BMW” into McField, Katz said.

Upon impact, the front of the SUV was lifted, mounted the motorcycle and ran over McField, according to the district attorney. Rosen continued heading southbound — the motorcycle still dragging beneath the SUV — until he struck a Mazda CX-5 in the center lane of Woodhaven Boulevard, at which point the motorcycle caught fire.

McField was pronounced dead at the scene due to “severe body trauma,” according to the release.

Rosen pleaded not guilty two counts of second-degree murder, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, reckless driving and operating a vehicle with a tinted window before Queens Supreme Court Justice Mary Bejarano on Friday, according to court documents. Bejarano ordered him to be held without bail during the pendency of the case. The Oceanside man is scheduled to return to court on Monday.

John Arlia, Rosen’s defense attorney identified in court records, did not immediately return a call seeking comment Friday afternoon.

If convicted, Rosen faces up to 25 years to life behind bars, according to Katz’s office.