What Happened
A 19-year-old Center Moriches motorcyclist was killed Tuesday afternoon when his motorcycle slammed into a pickup truck at the intersection of Montauk Highway and James Hawkins Road in Moriches, according to Long Island Life & Politics, which first reported the fatal crash.
Charles Carrano, of Center Moriches, was operating a 2006 Honda motorcycle eastbound on Montauk Highway when he entered the intersection at James Hawkins Road and struck a 2014 Ram 1500 pickup truck at 12:42 p.m. on July 14, 2026. The exact circumstances that led to the collision — including which vehicle had the right of way and whether any traffic control signals or stop signs govern the intersection — remain under active investigation.
Carrano was pronounced dead at the scene. According to Long Island Life & Politics, the official pronouncement was made by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner, who responded to the crash location. He was 19 years old.
The driver of the Ram 1500, Leonardo Munoz-Umanzor, 27, of East Moriches, was not injured in the collision. Both vehicles — Carrano’s motorcycle and Munoz-Umanzor’s pickup truck — were impounded by police for a safety check following standard procedure in fatal crashes, as reported by Long Island Life & Politics. No charges had been announced as of the time of initial reporting.
Location & Road Context
The crash took place at the intersection of Montauk Highway and James Hawkins Road in Moriches, a stretch of road that connects several South Shore communities across eastern Suffolk County. Montauk Highway is one of the primary east-west surface roads on Long Island’s South Shore, carrying a high volume of local and through traffic between communities from Bay Shore east to the Hamptons. Intersections along this corridor — particularly those without traffic signals — can present significant hazards for motorcyclists, whose smaller profiles may be harder for turning or crossing drivers to detect.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Suffolk County Police Seventh Squad detectives are leading the investigation into the fatal crash. As of the initial report, no charges have been filed against either party. 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 have been impounded to allow investigators to conduct mechanical safety inspections, a routine step in fatal accident investigations of this type.
Broader Impact
Motorcycle fatalities on Long Island’s surface roads carry particular urgency heading into peak summer riding season. Montauk Highway sees sharply elevated traffic volumes in July and August as beachgoers and Hamptons-bound travelers compete for space with local commuters — conditions that increase the danger at uncontrolled or lightly controlled intersections like the one at James Hawkins Road where Carrano was killed.