Aug. 15, 2025 By Bill Parry
A Bayside man was sentenced to eight years in prison on Aug. 14 for attempted assault and other crimes for driving his minivan on the Clearview Expressway, ramming multiple vehicles and injuring two motorists in separate collisions in 2023.
Joseph Lee, 30, of 211th Street in Bayside, was convicted by a jury in June of attempted assault in the first degree, two counts of assault in the second degree, and reckless driving. The jury deliberated for about three hours before reaching a guilty verdict on June 18.
According to the charges and trial testimony, on Jan. 18, 2023, at approximately 9:19 a.m., Lee entered the Clearview Expressway and drove northbound in the southbound lanes. While driving, he intentionally directed his minivan into oncoming vehicles, which swerved to avoid him. Lee struck five cars, causing serious physical injuries to two motorists. When officers arrived at the scene, they saw Lee running down the highway. He then entered one of the victim’s vehicles and said to the victim, “You want to fight?”