A 64-year-old man was charged with second-degree murder in a North Hills road rage incident that left a 29-year-old motorcyclist dead on the Long Island Expressway service road, police say.
Officials say Brian Noll was driving his 2022 Ford pickup truck on the South Service Road when he got into an argument with a motorcyclist. Police say, after some back and forth, Noll "intentionally swerved" into the green motorcycle, pinning the 29-year-old motorcyclist against the guardrail.
Police say the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not yet been released. News 12 spoke with friends of the motorcyclist near the scene of the crash, who said he was from the Bronx.
"We lost a great friend [to] a senseless act. A senseless act took a great person," said Bill Kruk through tears.
Noll pleaded not guilty during his Saturday afternoon arraignment. His defense attorney sent News 12 this statement:
"This is an unfortunate accident that was caused by a motorcyclist who was operating his motorcycle in the most reckless of ways on the Long Island Expressway and took exception to something that my client did in his truck and he positioned his vehicle, his motorcycle, alongside the truck and then took his hand off the throttle of the motorcycle and attempted to break off the mirror of the truck in a rage thereby causing the truck to lose control while he lost control of the motorcycle because he took his hand of the throttle and caused the collision, it was a horrible accident. My client is a 64-year-old grandfather who is entire life working, living, going to church in Long Island is now in retirement, was coming back to see some family because he recently moved upstate when this motorcyclist was wreaking havoc on the roads and caused this accident. My client is now unjustifiably charged with murder; he had absolutely no intent to come in contact with this motorcyclist and it's just a rea shame that he is involved in this."
Police are asking any witnesses who saw the incident to contact them or call Nassau County Crime Stoppers. They list the locations as the South Service Road of the Long Island Expressway, Exit 34 of the LIE, and South Service Road near New Hyde Park Road.