In the quiet hours just past midnight on September 6, 2025, a devastating collision shattered the stillness at the intersection of Nesconset Highway and Moriches Road in Stony Brook, New York. Jerry Diaz, a 24-year-old from Nesconset, was riding his 2022 Honda motorcycle westbound, unaware that his life was moments from being tragically cut short. At approximately 12:22 a.m., a 2017 GMC truck, driven by 25-year-old Mark Anthony Giordano of St. James, turned left from New Moriches Road onto the highway, directly into Diaz’s path. The impact was catastrophic, and despite the swift response of first responders, Diaz was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Authorities revealed that Giordano was allegedly under the influence at the time of the crash. Suffolk County Police arrested him on the spot, charging him with driving while intoxicated (DWI). He was held overnight at the Sixth Precinct and is scheduled for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip. The vehicles involved—Diaz’s motorcycle and Giordano’s truck—were impounded as the investigation, led by the Major Case Unit, continues to unravel the details of this preventable tragedy. Detectives are still determining which driver had the right of way at the intersection, but the stark reality remains: a young man’s life was lost to an alleged act of reckless driving.
Jerry Diaz, described by those who knew him as vibrant and full of promise, leaves behind a grieving community. His death marks another grim reminder of the toll impaired driving takes on Long Island, where such incidents have fueled calls for stronger enforcement and awareness. Suffolk County Police are urging anyone with information about the crash to come forward, offering a contact number, 631-852-6553, for those who might help piece together the events of that fateful night.
As family and friends mourn Diaz’s untimely passing, the incident underscores a broader plea: the choices made behind the wheel carry consequences far beyond the moment. For Jerry Diaz, a single decision by another ended a life filled with potential, leaving a void that no investigation can fill.