Suspect Arrested After Hit-and-Run on William Floyd Parkway Kills Man, Injures Brother

Two men who stopped to change a flat tire on William Floyd Parkway in Shirley were struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run, leaving one dead and one injured in a crash that Suffolk County investigators are treating as a major case.

Suffolk County Police Major Case Unit investigators say the collision occurred on Jan. 29, 2026. Police identified the man who died as 31-year-old Edgar Mejia of Mastic Beach, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The other man at the scene was named as Omar Mejia; available updates confirm that one person was injured. An Instagram post summarizing the incident said, "FATAL HIT-AND-RUN: Police say one person is dead and another was injured in a hit-and-run crash on William Floyd Parkway in Shirley."

The story title attached to initial reports states that a suspect has been arrested and describes the injured victim as seriously injured. Those elements are part of the update but are not accompanied by arrest details, vehicle descriptions, charges, or medical information in the supplied police excerpts. At this stage, investigators have not publicly provided the suspect's name, arrest location or time, the nature of any charges, or whether the injured person was transported to a hospital, according to the available material.

The crash highlights persistent public-safety and public-health challenges for Suffolk County residents who use William Floyd Parkway, a busy corridor where motorists, people on foot, and drivers handling vehicle trouble can come into conflict. Hit-and-run incidents increase the risk of fatal outcomes and complicate investigations, placing additional strain on emergency responders and the Major Case Unit tasked with determining what happened. For members of the Mastic Beach and Shirley communities, the loss of a 31-year-old resident will be felt personally and raises questions about roadway safety, lighting, speed enforcement, and the dangers of changing tires alongside fast-moving traffic.

Beyond immediate grief, such incidents affect community trust in traffic enforcement and emergency response. Public-health considerations include preventing future roadside injuries through improved infrastructure, clearer enforcement of lane and speed laws, and community education about the safest ways to handle disabled vehicles. Advocacy for more visible patrols, safer pull-off areas, and better roadside assistance coverage could reduce the chance of similar tragedies.

Investigators with the Suffolk County Police Major Case Unit are continuing the inquiry. Readers can expect updates when police release more information about the alleged arrest, the condition of the injured man, and any charges filed. In the meantime, drivers are reminded that stopping on high-speed parkways carries serious risk and that calling for professional roadside help or moving well off the roadway when safe can be lifesaving.