What Happened
Charles Carrano, 19, of Center Moriches, died Tuesday afternoon after his motorcycle collided with a pickup truck at the intersection of Montauk Highway and James Hawkins Road in Moriches, according to Suffolk County police as reported by Patch. The crash was reported at 12:42 p.m. on July 14, 2026.
According to Patch, Carrano was operating a 2006 Honda motorcycle traveling eastbound on Montauk Highway when he struck a 2014 Ram 1500 pickup truck in the intersection at James Hawkins Road. Police did not specify in which direction the Ram was traveling or whether a traffic control signal governs the intersection.
Carrano was pronounced dead at the scene. The official determination was made by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner, per the Patch report. No details regarding the circumstances that led to the collision — such as speed, traffic controls, or right-of-way — were released in the initial police statement.
The driver of the Ram 1500, a 27-year-old man from East Moriches, was not injured. Police have not publicly identified him. Both vehicles were impounded following the crash for a safety check, a standard procedure in fatal motor vehicle collisions in Suffolk County.
Location & Road Context
Montauk Highway is one of the primary east-west corridors running through the South Shore of Long Island, carrying significant local and seasonal traffic through communities including Moriches. The intersection at James Hawkins Road sits in a stretch of Montauk Highway that serves residential neighborhoods and connects Center Moriches with surrounding hamlets. Motorcycle crashes along this corridor are not uncommon during warmer months, when two-wheel traffic on the South Shore increases substantially.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Suffolk County police detectives from the Seventh Squad are handling the investigation. As of the initial police report, no charges have been announced and no arrests have been made in connection with the crash. Detectives are actively seeking witnesses and are asking anyone with information about the collision to contact the Seventh Squad directly at 631-852-8752. Both vehicles remain impounded pending the results of the safety inspection, according to Patch.
Broader Impact
Carrano’s death is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of motorcyclists at uncontrolled or busy intersections along Long Island’s South Shore corridors. Intersection crashes — particularly those involving motorcycles and larger vehicles — account for a disproportionate share of rider fatalities statewide. Anyone with information about this specific crash is urged to contact the Seventh Squad at 631-852-8752.