Hauppauge Man Dies After Hitting Garbage Truck in St. James

Update 12:30 p.m.: A Hauppauge driver was killed Wednesday morning in a St. James accident. 

According to Suffolk County Police, Jaime Rodriguez, 25, of Hauppauge, crossed into the westbound lanes while driving eastbound on Route 25 near Huber Place in a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee when he collided with a 2004 Mack garbage truck. The accident occurred at roughly 2 a.m.

A physician assistant from the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's office pronounced Rodriguez dead at the scene.

Joseph Mundy, 50, who was driving the garbage truck, was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Detectives are at the scene conducting an investigation. Anyone with information could call the Fourth Precinct at 854-8444.

-----

Update 8:45 a.m.- Middle Country Road is now open.

-----

Original story:

A fatal car crash in St. James early Wednesday morning has closed a section of Middle Country Road.

According to police, a garbage truck traveling westbound on Middle Country Road collided with a car traveling eastbound at 2:03 a.m. Police said the male driver of the car died at the scene. The driver of the garbage truck was transported to Stony Brook Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police have closed Middle Country Road between Lake Avenue and Hillside Avenue due to an ongoing investigation. The names of the drivers have not been released. Patch will continue to update this story as information becomes available.