The three-vehicle crash happened around 6:15 a.m. near exit 5, the Bay Parkway exit.
Authorities say 30-year-old Henry Brimsley, of Staten Island, was driving eastbound when authorities suspect he saw a police officer and made a U-turn on the highway.
He apparently drove his 2000 Honda Accord westbound at a high rate of speed in the eastbound lanes.
Brimsley crashed head on into an oncoming van with seven occupants. The force of the collision propelled the van into a Nissan sedan with two occupants.
All nine people in the other two vehicles sustained non-life threatening injuries and were treated at Coney Island Hospital and Maimonides Medical Center.
Brimsely was treated for a broken leg at Lutheran Medical Center.
He was charged with reckless endangerment, aggravated unlicensed operator of a vehicle and speeding violations.
The crashed caused massive traffic delays for the morning commute. Eastbound lanes were completely closed for 90 minutes while authorities investigated. Two westbound lanes were also closed.
CLICK HERE to see images from the scene.
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