LIE east shut down for nearly five hours after accident, Suffolk police say

A male motorist in a sedan was seriously injured in a Friday morning collision with a box truck on the Long Island Expressway's eastbound lanes in Hauppauge, Suffolk police said.

Derrick Louis, 24, of Westbury, was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition, police said. A female passenger, also 24, was treated at Stony Brook University Hospital for minor injuries.

The male driver of the box truck, who is 33, was not hurt, police said.

The crash, which caused Louis's car to veer into the woods and hit a tree, prompted police to close all lanes between exits 55 and 56 for nearly five hours, from shortly after 3 a.m. to just before 8 a.m., the police statement said.

Louis's car was impounded for a safety check and the box truck was inspected by Motor Carrier Safety Section officers, police said. Detectives are asking anyone with information on the crash to call the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8452.