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Queens, NY (March 1, 2026) – Four people were injured on Friday morning, February 27, after a large multi-vehicle crash on the westbound Long Island Expressway in the Long Island City section of Queens. The collision occurred near 25th Street and involved at least nine vehicles, some of which were left piled on top of one another.
Emergency units arrived to find extensive damage across multiple lanes of the highway. One person suffered critical injuries, while three others were hurt and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. At least one injured person was seen being carried on a backboard across the center median to reach a waiting ambulance.
The westbound lanes of the expressway were shut down as crews worked to remove damaged vehicles and clear debris from the roadway. Only the HOV lane remained open during the response. Traffic delays stretched back toward Elmhurst, causing significant morning congestion.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and no additional details about the injured individuals have been released.
Our thoughts are with those injured as they continue to receive medical care.
Why Large Highway Chain-Reaction Crashes Often Cause Serious Injuries
Chain-reaction crashes on busy highways can escalate quickly when traffic is dense, and vehicles are traveling at higher speeds. A single impact can push vehicles into others, creating pileups that increase the risk of severe injuries.
Limited stopping distance and sudden braking leave drivers with little time to react. When multiple lanes are involved, emergency access and victim removal can become more complex. Investigators typically examine traffic flow, vehicle spacing, and roadway conditions to determine how these large-scale crashes develop and why injuries occur.
