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Shoreham, NY (May 10, 2026) – A three-vehicle crash in Shoreham on Saturday morning left a Flushing man seriously injured, according to Suffolk County police. The collision occurred around 9:32 a.m. on May 9, on Route 25A near Defense Hill Road.
Police said Jianhua Zhou, 45, was driving a 2014 Toyota Sienna eastbound when it struck the rear of a 2010 Ford Transit. The impact forced the Ford off the roadway, where it crashed into several trees near Defense Hill Rd.
Investigators said Zhou’s vehicle continued eastbound after the initial collision and then struck a westbound 2023 Ford. Emergency units responded to the scene and airlifted Zhou to Stony Brook University Hospital with serious injuries.
The driver of the Ford Transit, Lawrence Lederer, 36, of Miller Place, and passenger Bryan Wilson, 37, of Rocky Point, were not injured. The driver of the 2023 Ford, Piotr Ratkiewicz, 57, of Port Jefferson, sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, and more details will be released as soon as they become available.
We are thinking of those injured.
Why Rear-End Crashes Can Trigger Multi-Vehicle Collisions
Rear-end crashes can quickly escalate into multi-vehicle accidents, especially on busy roadways where vehicles travel in opposite directions. When a vehicle is struck with enough force, it may leave the roadway, spin into other lanes, or collide with additional traffic nearby.
Crashes involving trees or roadside obstacles can also increase injury severity because the impact force is concentrated in a smaller area. In multi-vehicle incidents, investigators often examine following distance, speed, driver attention, and roadway conditions to determine how the sequence of collisions unfolded. Air medical transport is typically used when patients suffer potentially life-threatening injuries or require rapid treatment at a trauma center. Road closures are common after these crashes due to debris, damaged vehicles, and the need for detailed scene documentation.
