Melville, NY — July 20, 2025, Joseph Egan and Sheakh Mortuza were injured in a multi-vehicle truck accident at approximately 3:30 a.m. along I.H. 495.
According to authorities, the accident took place in the eastbound lanes of the Long Island Expressway in the vicinity of Bagatelle Road.
Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, a collision took place between a Toyota Camry occupied by 46-year-old Sheakh Mortuza and a Hyundai Tucson occupied by 40-year-old Joseph Egan. After the initial collision, the Tucson reportedly also crashed into an 18-wheeler that had been parked on the shoulder of the interstate.
Egan sustained serious injuries over the course of the accident and was flown to an area medical facility in order to receive immediate treatment, according to reports. Mortuza suffered non-life-threatening injuries, as well, and was also taken to a medical facility for care.
Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When a multi-vehicle crash ends with a vehicle striking a parked 18-wheeler on the shoulder of the interstate, the first legal question is: Was the truck stopped legally—and visibly—at the time of impact? That may sound straightforward, but in practice, it’s often one of the most overlooked aspects of these investigations.
Commercial trucks do have the right to pull over in emergencies, but federal regulations require that they activate hazard lights and place warning triangles or flares behind the vehicle if they’re going to remain stationary on the shoulder. Those steps are meant to alert approaching drivers—especially at night on high-speed roads like I-495. If the truck didn’t follow those procedures, then it may share some responsibility for the secondary collision, even if it wasn’t involved in the initial crash.
On the other hand, the primary collision between the Camry and the Tucson may have triggered a sequence of events that left the second driver with no way to avoid hitting the parked truck. That makes the timing and spacing between those impacts critically important. Black box data from the Tucson, as well as the truck (if powered), could reveal speed, braking effort, and steering input before the final impact. Dash cams or surveillance footage may also help clarify the sequence.
Even in complex, multi-vehicle situations, liability doesn’t disappear just because a vehicle was stationary. If the truck was parked too close to the travel lane, not marked properly, or stopped without a valid reason, those facts matter.
Key Takeaways:
- A key question is whether the 18-wheeler was legally and properly secured on the shoulder at the time of the collision.
- Federal rules require hazard signals and warning devices when a truck is stopped along a highway.
- The sequence and spacing between the first crash and the secondary impact will be critical to assessing liability.
- Black box data, dash cam footage, and physical evidence can help reconstruct the full chain of events.
- Even stationary vehicles can share legal responsibility if they contributed to the risk or severity of the crash.
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