If you’ve lived on Long Island for more than a week, you know Sunrise Highway is basically our shared survival test. It's the artery of the South Shore, and honestly, it’s one of the most unpredictable stretches of asphalt in New York.
Today, January 17, 2026, the usual rhythm of the morning commute was shattered. Early reports and local traffic data confirm a multi-vehicle sunrise highway accident today that has caused significant delays near the Massapequa and Amityville border.
Traffic hit a wall.
The Current Situation on Route 27
Right now, eastbound lanes are seeing heavy congestion. Emergency crews arrived on the scene shortly after 7:00 a.m. following a collision involving at least three vehicles near the intersection of Unqua Road. While the investigation is still in its early stages, first responders have been working to clear debris that scattered across two lanes, effectively bottlenecking the flow of traffic toward the Suffolk County line.
This isn't just a "fender bender" situation.
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Nassau County Police Department units have been redirecting motorists to Merrick Road as an alternative. If you're stuck in it, you're likely looking at a 30-to-40-minute delay just to move three miles. It’s frustrating. It’s loud. And for many, it’s a terrifying reminder of how quickly things go sideways on this road.
Why This Stretch Is So Dangerous
There’s a specific kind of chaos that happens on Sunrise. You have people doing 70 mph next to people trying to turn into a Best Buy parking lot. It makes no sense.
Specifically, the area near Massapequa has been a hotspot lately. Just a few weeks ago, on New Year’s Day 2026, a horrific wrong-way crash occurred near this same general vicinity. In that incident, a 32-year-old man from Ronkonkoma was charged with DWI after driving his Mercedes the wrong way and hitting an Acura head-on. Both drivers ended up in critical condition.
When you combine high-speed limits with frequent traffic lights and commercial entrances, you get a recipe for the exact sunrise highway accident today that has everyone checking their GPS.
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Common Misconceptions About Sunrise Highway Safety
Most people think the biggest danger is the speed. It's not. It's the speed differential.
You have the "express" feel of a highway mixed with the "local" feel of a shopping district. People often assume that because it’s a "Highway" (NY-27), they have the right of way indefinitely. But the reality is that the traffic lights at intersections like Broadway or Louden Avenue create sudden stop-and-go pockets that catch distracted drivers off guard.
- "The speed limit is just a suggestion." Actually, the 55 mph zones are strictly enforced, but the transition into 40 mph zones near shopping centers is where most rear-end collisions happen.
- "Left turns are safe at lights." Not always. With the "Jersey left" style or tight turning radiuses, many drivers misjudge the speed of oncoming eastbound traffic.
- "Modern safety tech prevents these crashes." While Tesla’s Autopilot or Honda Sensing helps, the "airborne" crash in Bay Shore recently showed that no amount of tech can stop a car if it leaves the roadway at high speed.
Real Evidence from Recent Reports
Experts from the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) have frequently pointed to the South Shore corridor as a high-incident zone. In early January 2026, we saw a tragic pedestrian fatality in North Lindenhurst where a box truck was involved. It's a reminder that Sunrise isn't just a car problem—it's a safety problem for everyone nearby.
How to Navigate the Aftermath
If you are currently trying to navigate the sunrise highway accident today, your best bet is to bail on Route 27 as soon as possible.
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The Southern State Parkway is usually the go-to alternative, but keep in mind that every other driver has the same idea. This creates "sympathy traffic" on the Parkway. Honestly, taking the side roads—Merrick Road (Route 27A) or even Montauk Highway further east—might be slower on paper, but you’ll at least keep moving.
Immediate Actionable Steps for Long Island Drivers
- Check the 511NY App: Before you even put your car in reverse, check the real-time cameras. If you see red lines near the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway (Route 135) junction, stay away.
- Avoid the "Gawker Slowdown": One of the biggest causes of secondary accidents is people trying to film the scene with their phones. Put the phone down. Focus on the brake lights in front of you.
- Adjust Your Following Distance: The "three-second rule" is a joke on Long Island; people will just cut you off. But on a day like today, when the pavement might be slick or the sun glare is hitting just right, that extra ten feet of space is the difference between a close call and an insurance claim.
- Verify Insurance Coverage: Given the frequency of crashes here, make sure your "Underinsured Motorist" coverage is topped up. Too many local accidents involve drivers with minimal state-required coverage that won't even cover a bumper replacement on a modern SUV.
The investigation into the sunrise highway accident today will likely continue through the afternoon. Crews are expected to have all lanes reopened by mid-day, but the residual "accordion effect" will likely haunt the eastbound commute until the evening rush begins.
Stay alert, keep your eyes on the road, and maybe take the long way home today. It's better to arrive late than to become part of the next traffic report.