One motorcyclist killed, another critically hurt in separate crashes, police say
Suffolk County police said a Central Islip man was killed in a crash at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Highway-Route 454 and Motor Parkway on the Hauppauge-Islandia border Friday morning. Credit: Christopher Sabella
One motorcyclist was killed and another was critically injured in separate crashes that forced the closure of two major Suffolk County roadways Friday, police said.
Suffolk County police said Matthew Matuza, 42, of Central Islip, was killed when the 2013 Ducati he was operating eastbound on Motor Parkway was struck by a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe making a left-hand turn from the westbound lane onto Veterans Memorial Highway-Route 454 at 7:03 a.m.
The force of the collision caused Matuza and his motorcycle to roll under a 2015 Ford F-750 truck that was stopped at the intersection, police said.
The driver of the Santa Fe and driver of the Ford were not injured. Police impounded the Hyundai and Ducati for safety checks, and officers from the Motor Carrier Safety Section conducted a safety check on the Ford.
The driver of the Santa Fe, a 23-year-old woman, has not been charged.
Fourth Squad detectives are asking anyone with information on the accident to call them at 631-854-8452.
The crash closed the intersection all morning, police and state transportation officials said.
The other crash occurred on the westbound Long Island Expressway just west of Exit 51, Deer Park Avenue-Route 231, in Dix Hills at 6:22 a.m., police said.
That crash forced the closure of all westbound lanes of the expressway for more than three hours, with traffic diverted onto the service road in the area.
Police said Leon Bassene, 41, of Brentwood, riding a 2021 Suzuki motorcycle, failed to slow for traffic and struck the rear of a 2014 Nissan. Police said Bassene was taken to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore where he was admitted in critical condition. The driver of the Nissan, who was alone in the vehicle, was not injured, police said.
Second Squad detectives are investigating that crash, police said. The vehicles were impounded for safety checks.
Detectives are asking anyone with information on that crash to call the Second Squad at 631-854-8252.
John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”
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