Mastic Man Arrested After Hit-and-Run Chase in Stolen U-Haul Van

A Mastic man faces multiple charges after police say he fled officers in a stolen moving van Sunday morning, striking another vehicle during a reckless chase that ended with a manhunt through Farmingville neighborhoods.

Gerald Matzen, 42, of Mastic, was driving a stolen 2025 U-Haul van with passenger Edwin Jefferson, 48, of Mastic Beach, when officers attempted to stop the vehicle shortly before 10:30 a.m. on Sunrise Highway Service Road in Patchogue, according to Suffolk County police.

Instead of stopping, Matzen continued driving recklessly while officers pursued the stolen van, police said in a news release. The chase escalated when Matzen drove the van down the wrong side of Express Drive North in Holtsville, where it struck another vehicle in a hit-and-run crash.

The two men abandoned the van on Lidge Drive in Farmingville, prompting police to launch a foot search through the residential area. Video footage captured at least 10 officers sprinting down roads and searching through backyards as they hunted for the suspects.

Police apprehended Matzen on Dogwood Avenue in Farmingville, while Jefferson was caught on John Drive, also in Farmingville, according to authorities.

Both suspects had outstanding warrants for previous charges, police said. No injuries were reported in the hit-and-run collision.

Suffolk County authorities charged Matzen with drug possession, leaving the scene of an accident, unauthorized use of the van, and reckless endangerment. The charges against Jefferson were not immediately detailed.

The incident highlights ongoing concerns about vehicle theft and dangerous police chases on Long Island’s busy roadways. Sunrise Highway Service Road, where the chase began, serves as a major thoroughfare connecting communities across Suffolk County.

The pursuit covered multiple municipalities, starting in Patchogue before moving through Holtsville and ending in Farmingville. Express Drive North, where the hit-and-run occurred, is a residential area where wrong-way driving posed significant risks to other motorists and pedestrians.

U-Haul vans have become frequent targets for theft due to their utility and the assumption they may contain valuable items. The 2025 model year indicates this was likely a recently manufactured vehicle.

The foot chase through Farmingville neighborhoods required significant police resources, with officers conducting a systematic search of the area. The residential setting meant police had to carefully navigate private property while pursuing the suspects.

Both men were held overnight at the Sixth Precinct station house and were scheduled for arraignment Monday in First District Court in Central Islip, according to police.

The case demonstrates the serious consequences of fleeing police, as what began as a traffic stop escalated into multiple felony charges. Matzen now faces charges related to the stolen vehicle, drug possession, the hit-and-run crash, and endangering public safety through reckless driving.

Suffolk County police continue investigating the circumstances surrounding how the U-Haul van was initially stolen and whether the suspects were involved in other criminal activities. The outstanding warrants for both men suggest a pattern of legal troubles that preceded Sunday’s incident.

The successful apprehension of both suspects showcases the coordination between multiple police units and the effectiveness of deploying officers on foot when vehicles are abandoned during chases.