SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. — A Department of Transportation worker suffered a traumatic brain injury after a Centereach driver allegedly entered a closed section of the Long Island Expressway while intoxicated and struck him, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced Wednesday.
Joseph Kalinowski, 54, was arraigned the same day on a multi-count indictment tied to the February crash, which prosecutors say happened after he drove through clearly marked road closure barriers.
Crash inside marked road closure
According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, the collision occurred around 10:30 p.m. on February 26 as Kalinowski drove eastbound on the Long Island Expressway after allegedly consuming alcohol.
Investigators say he ignored emergency vehicles and traffic control devices that had shut down part of the roadway, then drove into the work zone and struck a New York State Department of Transportation employee assisting Suffolk County police with debris cleanup.
The victim was rushed to Stony Brook University Hospital, where doctors treated a traumatic brain injury and a fractured arm, injuries prosecutors described as serious and life-altering.
District Attorney Tierney said the case underscores the risks posed by impaired driving in active roadway work zones.
“The defendant allegedly chose to drink, chose to get behind the wheel, and then drove through a clearly marked road closure,” Tierney said. “My office will continue to hold drivers accountable when they put the public at risk.”
Key Points
• Centereach man indicted on felony charges tied to alleged DWI crash on Long Island Expressway
• DOT worker suffered traumatic brain injury and broken arm while clearing roadway debris
• Defendant faces up to 5 to 15 years in prison if convicted of top charge
Charges and court proceedings
Kalinowski faces a series of charges led by aggravated vehicular assault, a Class C felony, along with second-degree assault, first- and second-degree vehicular assault, and multiple counts related to driving while intoxicated.
Additional charges include reckless endangerment and reckless driving.
He pleaded not guilty at arraignment before Suffolk County Court Judge Bryan L. Browns, who ordered him released under supervision while the case proceeds.
If convicted on the top charge, Kalinowski could face between five and 15 years in prison.
The court scheduled his next appearance for June 3.
Investigation details and case handling
Detective Travis Pfeffer of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Sixth Squad led the investigation, which prosecutors say established that the crash occurred within an active, clearly marked closure zone.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Alexander Bopp of the Vehicular Crime Bureau, a unit that focuses on serious traffic-related offenses, including impaired driving cases involving injury or death.
Work zone crashes have remained a persistent safety concern across New York, particularly on major highways like the Long Island Expressway, where overnight maintenance and emergency response operations frequently require lane closures.
Incidents involving drivers entering restricted areas often carry heightened penalties due to the presence of roadside workers and emergency personnel.
Broader safety concerns
Transportation officials have long warned that disregarding road closures dramatically increases the risk of severe injury, especially for workers operating just feet from live traffic.
In this case, prosecutors allege the combination of intoxication and failure to obey traffic controls directly led to the collision.
The injured DOT worker had been assisting with debris removal at the time — a routine but hazardous task that depends heavily on drivers respecting closures and reduced speeds.
What comes next
The case now moves forward in Suffolk County Court as prosecutors prepare for trial or potential plea negotiations.
Kalinowski remains presumed innocent under the law unless proven guilty.
His legal representation is listed as Harmon Lutzer, Esq.
The status of the victim’s recovery has not been publicly updated.
The case remains active, with Kalinowski due back in court on June 3 as proceedings continue.
