Elderly driver killed after head-on crash on Woodside Avenue

A 77-year-old Middle Island woman was killed in a two-vehicle collision in East Patchogue after her car crossed into the opposite lane and struck another vehicle, Suffolk County Police say. The crash, investigated by the Fifth Squad, occurred Jan. 12, 2026 and left one driver dead and the other injured.

According to the police report, Rae Deprizio was driving a 2014 Kia Optima westbound on Woodside Avenue East when the vehicle crossed into the eastbound lane and collided with a 2012 Jeep Renegade driven by 32-year-old Samantha Drake of Mastic. Both drivers were transported to NYU Langone Hospital - Suffolk in Patchogue. Deprizio was pronounced dead at the hospital; Drake sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Police impounded both vehicles for safety checks as part of the investigation. Fifth Squad detectives are asking anyone with information about the crash to contact them to aid the ongoing inquiry.

The fatality underscores risks on local roads used by commuters and residents across Patchogue, Mastic and Middle Island. Woodside Avenue East serves as a connector for school routes, local businesses and people traveling between central Suffolk neighborhoods, so collisions there can have ripple effects on traffic flow and emergency response times. For families and caregivers, the incident is a stark reminder to monitor elderly drivers for signs of impairment, disorientation or difficulty with lane control and to arrange alternative transportation when needed.

Beyond immediate community impacts, such crashes also touch municipal services and budgets through emergency medical response, tow and impound operations, and investigative work by county police. Residents who regularly drive Woodside Avenue East should plan for possible traffic delays around the crash site and stay alert to changed traffic patterns while authorities complete their work.

The investigation remains active; police will determine contributing factors including possible mechanical issues, road conditions or medical events. If you saw the collision or have relevant video or information, contact the Fifth Squad to assist investigators.

Our two cents? Look out for one another on familiar roads: check in with older neighbors about mobility and driving confidence, keep dash cameras running if you commute this route, and report any tips to police so investigators can piece together what happened and help prevent the next tragedy.