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Utility Pole Goes for a Ride in Dawn Crash

Wed, 07/03/2019 - 15:07
A Montauk man was arrested on a drunken-driving charge after crashing into a pole, which ended up in an upright position in the bed of his pickup truck, and then a tree.
Hampton Pix

Near dawn on Saturday, a 21-year-old man westbound in a pickup truck on Montauk Highway went off the highway across from Brent’s Deli in Amagansett, severed a utility pole by the American Legion Hall — ending up, improbably, with the pole, severed from its base, in the bed of the truck — and finally hit a tree.

The pole “did come to rest in the vehicle’s bed,” the police report said, leaning against the rear windows.

Joseph Martin Graham of Montauk, who was later charged with driving while intoxicated, was at the wheel of a 2012 Toyota Tacoma when the crash happened, at about 4:40 a.m. The Tacoma sustained severe front-end damage.

The pole had a streetlight on it, and PSEG Long Island worked for several hours to remove it from the truck and install a new one.

Later that morning, while the crews were cleaning up, two minor accidents occurred in almost the same spot. Though those accident reports did not cite the Tacoma crash, driver inattention appeared to be the cause of both.

Mr. Graham, who police said performed poorly on field sobriety tests, was charged with misdemeanor D.W.I. at about 5 a.m. Police reportedly found a clear plastic bag containing a white powdery substance on the passenger seat, which they later said later tested positive for the presence of cocaine. Mr. Graham was then additionally charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, also a misdemeanor.

An ambulance took Mr. Graham to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital for treatment of minor bleeding on his lower arm. He was soon released. East Hampton Town Justice Lisa R. Rana released him on his own recognizance following arraignment later Saturday morning.

In other recent alcohol-related incidents, Juan F. Marulanda, 28, of Montauk was charged with aggravated D.W.I. at 5:20 a.m. Saturday, about half an hour after town police stopped his 2014 Lexus near Carl Fisher Plaza in Montauk, reportedly for lacking headlights. His blood-alcohol level was above .18, police said, more than twice the legal limit, bringing on the elevated charge.

Justice Rana arraigned him later that morning; he too was released on his own recognizance.

Bryan J. Tapiagarzon of Sag Harbor, 30, was charged 3:40 a.m. Sunday after police found his 2018 Dodge pickup truck at a stop light at the intersection of Cedar and North Main Streets in East Hampton, with the driver asleep behind the wheel. An officer woke him up and found him to be intoxicated, the report said. Police also found a small amount of marijuana in the center console of the truck.

He was charged with misdemeanor D.W.I. and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation. Justice Rana released him on his own recognizance after arraignment.


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