A Riverhead man was charged with driving without a valid license after causing a four-car pileup on County Road 39 in Southampton during rush hour on Monday morning that sent three people—including the Riverhead man—to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital.
Town Police said Kevin Hughes, 59, was traveling eastbound at about 8:15 a.m. in a 1999 Mercury Sable, when he collided with a 2014 Subaru operated by Leigh Wanamaker of Westhampton, who was also traveling eastbound, near Shrubland Road.
After the first collision, Mr. Hughes’s car struck a 2017 Tesla operated by Alexis Collazo, 29, of Staten Island, which was also traveling eastbound. Mr. Hughes’s car then collided with a 2018 Chevrolet pickup operated by Santos Palacios, 42, of Hampton Bays, which was traveling westbound.
Mr. Hughes, Ms. Wanamaker, and Ms. Collazo were all transported to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital.
Both westbound lanes and one eastbound lane were closed for about an hour while the accident scene was cleared. Mr. Hughes was issued a ticket for operating without a license.
According to Southampton Town Police Lieutenant Susan Ralph, the accident occurred at about 8:15 a.m., and the road was reopened by 9:20 a.m.
Southampton Village Volunteer Ambulance, Southampton Volunteer Ambulance and the Southampton Village Fire Department all responded to the scene.
billsutton@pressnewsgroup.com on May 15, 2019