Southampton, NY (March 5, 2026) — A catastrophic chain-reaction collision involving five vehicles claimed the life of a Staten Island man and left several others injured on Sunrise Highway Tuesday afternoon. The Southampton Town Police Department has identified the deceased as Anasser Almontaser, 33.
The “horrific” crash occurred around 3:00 p.m. in the area of Shrubland Road and Tuckahoe Road. According to witness statements and preliminary police findings, Almontaser was operating a GMC van westbound when the vehicle moved out of its lane, side-swiping a Volkswagen SUV traveling in the opposite direction.
The GMC then struck a Toyota truck, causing construction equipment to be ejected from the truck’s bed and strike a flatbed tow truck. The sequence ended in a violent head-on collision between the GMC van and a Dodge Ram. The impact was so severe that it created a debris field stretching over 600 feet and left four of the five vehicles essentially totaled.
Mr. Almontaser was pinned in the wreckage and had to be extricated by emergency crews; he was tragically pronounced dead at the scene. Three other individuals involved in the crash were transported to a local hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. Sunrise Highway remained impassable for over four hours as investigators utilized an Unmanned Aircraft Unit (drone) to map the extensive scene.
Multi-Vehicle Accident in New York
A five-vehicle accident involving a head-on impact creates an incredibly complex legal case. In New York, the No-Fault insurance system typically covers the first $50,000 of medical expenses and lost wages for victims. However, in cases of “serious injury” or wrongful death, survivors and the families of the deceased have the right to pursue a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the party found to be negligent.
In this specific incident, the presence of a “debris field of over 600 feet” and witness accounts of a lane departure suggest that the primary investigation will focus on why the GMC van drifted. Factors such as mechanical failure, sudden medical episodes, or driver distraction are all critical elements. Furthermore, because a secondary impact was caused by construction gear flying out of a truck bed, questions regarding the proper securing of cargo may also arise under New York’s vehicle safety statutes. An experienced New York multi-vehicle accident attorney helps coordinate with an accident reconstructionist to interpret drone-captured data and witness testimony.
If you or a loved one were involved in this collision or have questions about your rights following a highway accident in Suffolk County, contact Stanley Law Office at 888-997-3889 for a free, private consultation. We are here to help you find the answers and support your family deserves.
