Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
Joseph Kalinowski, a 54-year-old Centereach man, was indicted on multiple felony charges after allegedly driving while intoxicated and crashing into a New York State Department of Transportation employee who was helping with debris cleanup on the Long Island Expressway, according to Suffolk County prosecutors. The incident occurred on February 26 at approximately 10:30 p.m. when Kalinowski was driving eastbound on the LIE from Jericho to his home in Centereach after consuming alcohol, prosecutors said.
According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, Kalinowski allegedly disregarded a clearly marked road closure that was protected by emergency vehicles and traffic control devices. While driving his Toyota Camry, Kalinowski allegedly entered the closed section of roadway and struck the DOT employee who was working to remove debris from the highway surface. The DOT worker was assisting Suffolk County Police with the cleanup operation when the collision occurred.
The victim sustained serious injuries in the crash and was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment, according to prosecutors. Medical personnel treated the DOT employee for multiple injuries including a traumatic brain injury and a fractured arm. The severity of the brain injury and the victim’s current condition were not disclosed in court proceedings.
On April 22, Kalinowski was arraigned on an indictment before County Court Judge Bryan L. Browns on eight separate charges stemming from the February crash. The charges include one count of Aggravated Vehicular Assault, classified as a Class C felony; one count of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony; one count of Vehicular Assault in the First Degree, a Class D felony; and one count of Vehicular Assault in the Second Degree, a Class E felony, according to court records.
Additionally, Kalinowski faces one count of Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, an unclassified misdemeanor, and two separate counts of Driving While Intoxicated, both unclassified misdemeanors. He was also charged with one count of Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor, and one count of Reckless Driving, an unclassified misdemeanor, prosecutors said.
“The defendant allegedly chose to drink, chose to get behind the wheel, and then drove through a clearly marked road closure,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney in a statement following the arraignment. “My office will continue to hold drivers accountable when they put the public at risk.”
Judge Browns ordered Kalinowski to be placed on supervised release during the pendency of the case rather than being held in custody. Kalinowski is scheduled to return to court on June 3, 2026, for further proceedings. If convicted on the top count of Aggravated Vehicular Assault, he faces a potential sentence of five to 15 years in prison, according to prosecutors.
Location & Road Context
The crash occurred on the eastbound lanes of the Long Island Expressway, one of the region’s primary east-west arteries that carries hundreds of thousands of vehicles daily between New York City and eastern Long Island communities. The LIE frequently experiences debris-related incidents that require closure of travel lanes while DOT crews and police work to clear materials from the roadway to ensure safe passage for motorists.
Road closures on the LIE are typically marked with multiple warning signs, traffic cones, emergency vehicle lighting, and other traffic control devices to alert drivers well in advance of work zones. The eastbound direction where the crash occurred serves commuters and residents traveling from Nassau County communities like Jericho toward Suffolk County destinations including Centereach, where Kalinowski was headed at the time of the incident.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
The case was investigated by Suffolk County Police and prosecutors from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, who presented evidence to a grand jury that resulted in the eight-count indictment. The charges range from felonies carrying potential prison sentences to misdemeanors, reflecting both the serious injuries sustained by the victim and Kalinowski’s alleged intoxicated state at the time of the crash.
The multiple DWI charges suggest that prosecutors may have evidence of different levels of intoxication or different legal theories under New York State vehicle and traffic law. The supervised release order allows Kalinowski to remain free while awaiting trial, though specific conditions of his release were not detailed in court proceedings. His next court appearance on June 3, 2026, will likely involve plea negotiations or preparation for trial proceedings.
Broader Impact
This case highlights the ongoing dangers faced by highway maintenance workers and emergency responders who must work in active traffic zones on Long Island’s busy roadways. DOT employees regularly risk their safety while performing essential road maintenance and debris removal, particularly during nighttime hours when visibility is reduced and impaired drivers may be more likely to miss traffic control devices marking work zones.