Queens, New York — A teenage driver has been charged with manslaughter months after a violent late-night crash on the Long Island Expressway left a 30-year-old motorcyclist dead, authorities confirmed this week.
According to NYPD, the suspect — now 16 — was just 15 years old at the time of the collision in September. Investigators say the teen was behind the wheel of a black 2018 Mitsubishi SUV when he rear-ended a motorcyclist traveling westbound on the Long Island Expressway near Exit 22A and 108th Street in the Corona section of Queens around 12:45 a.m. on Sept. 26.
Chain-Reaction Crash Turned Fatal
Police identified the victim as Luis Mareno, 30, a resident of Corona. He was riding a black 2020 Triumph motorcycle when the SUV allegedly slammed into the back of his bike.
The force of the impact threw Mareno from the motorcycle, leaving him in the roadway, where he was then struck by a 2015 Toyota Sienna driven by a 30-year-old woman, authorities said. The motorcycle continued to spin across three lanes of traffic before crashing into the rear driver’s side of a parked and unoccupied 2017 Infiniti Q50 on the shoulder.
Mareno suffered severe head trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
No Immediate Arrest, Charges Filed Months Later
All vehicles involved remained at the scene following the crash, including the SUV driven by the teen. Despite the severity of the incident, no immediate arrest was made that night, according to police.
After what authorities described as an extensive investigation conducted by the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad in coordination with Queens Family Court, charges were formally filed this week.
The teen now faces multiple counts, including:
- Manslaughter
- Criminally negligent homicide
- Assault
- Leaving the scene of an accident
Because the suspect is being prosecuted as a juvenile, his identity has not been released.
Investigation Raises Ongoing Safety Questions
Officials have not released additional details about speed, impairment, or whether the teen was licensed at the time of the crash. The case underscores renewed concerns about underage and unlicensed driving, particularly during overnight hours on major highways like the Long Island Expressway.
The investigation remains closed at this stage, with prosecutors expected to proceed through juvenile court.
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