Motorcyclist seriously injured in Smithtown Avenue crash with car in Suffolk County

James Stucchio, 57, of Lake Grove, was seriously injured Saturday afternoon after his Harley-Davidson crossed the double yellow line on Smithtown Avenue near Marconi Drive and struck an oncoming Honda Civic, a crash that put one of Suffolk County’s familiar traffic corridors back under a harsh spotlight.

Suffolk County police said the collision happened at about 4:14 p.m. on April 11, 2026. Stucchio was riding a 2002 Harley-Davidson southbound when he lost control, crossed into northbound lanes and hit a 2013 Honda Civic driven by Bilkes Sikder, 45, of Centereach. Police said Stucchio was ejected from the motorcycle.

Both drivers were taken to Stony Brook University Hospital. Stucchio suffered serious physical injuries, while Sikder had non-life-threatening injuries. Police also impounded both vehicles for safety checks as detectives continued to piece together how the crash unfolded.

At this stage, investigators have said only that Stucchio lost control before crossing into opposing traffic. They have not publicly tied the crash to speed, turning movements, visibility, weather or impairment. Those questions matter because a motorcycle rider has far less protection than a driver inside a car, and the severity of the injuries is often shaped by how fast the vehicles were moving, whether the rider was wearing a helmet and whether any mechanical problem played a role.

The crash also lands in a broader public safety picture that has not improved enough for riders. New York has had a universal motorcycle helmet law since 1967, and state traffic safety officials continue to push helmets, rider training and motorist awareness as the first line of defense. Preliminary state figures cited by the Department of Motor Vehicles showed motorcycle fatalities falling from 157 in 2024 to 134 in 2025, but severe crashes remain a persistent risk on roads where motorcycles and passenger cars share the same lanes.

Smithtown Avenue has seen other serious crashes in recent years, including a fatal rollover in Ronkonkoma in February 2024, adding to concerns about whether this stretch needs stronger enforcement, clearer warning signs or other safety improvements. Suffolk County’s Vision Zero goal calls for zero traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2035, a benchmark that makes crashes like this one more than a single bad afternoon on the road.

Anyone with information is asked to call Fifth Squad detectives at 631-854-8552.