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Three people, including a child, were rushed to the hospital with minor injuries following a three-car accident on a dangerous stretch of Montauk Highway in Westhampton on Friday afternoon, according to Southampton Town Police.
At 3:55 p.m., Lynette R. Taboada, 33, of Westhampton was stopped in the eastbound lane of Montauk Highway, waiting to make a left turn onto Summit Boulevard, when her 2003 Jeep was struck from behind by a 2010 Toyota driven by Paul D. Mercready, 41, of Tampa, Florida, according to a police report of the accident. Mr. Mercready told police he did not see that Ms. Taboada was stopped until it was too late to brake.
Ms. Taboada’s vehicle was pushed into the westbound lane, where it was struck again by a 2007 Volkswagen driven by C.B. Briguglio, 34, of East Quogue.
Volunteers with the Westhampton War Memorial Ambulance and East Moriches Community Ambulance responded to the scene, and transported three people, including a 6-year-old boy, to local hospitals with minor injuries.
Ms. Taboada, who was alone in her car, suffered a bruise or contusion to her head and was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead, police said.
A 6-year-old in Mr. Mercready’s car suffered a bruise to his neck and was also transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center, police said. An 8-year-old girl also riding in Mr. Mercready’s car was not hurt during the accident, according to authorities.
Mr. Briguglio suffered a minor cut to his arm or hand, and was transported to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue. Two children, ages one and three, who were riding in his car were not injured, police said.
Following the accident, Southampton Town Police charged Ms. Taboada with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor, as well as operating an unregistered vehicle on a highway, a violation. She was also charged with a second violation.
Town Police closed Montauk Highway between Tanners Neck Road and Seabreeze Avenue for about 45 minutes Friday, and firefighters with the Westhampton Beach Fire Department cleared debris from the road.
