Update: East Hampton Man Identified as Fatality in Bridgehampton Crash With Suffolk County Bus
Update, 2:37 p.m.: A 27-year-old East Hampton man was identified as the driver who died in a Bridgehampton accident involving a Suffolk County transit bus Friday morning.
Cesar Marin was driving a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer west on Montauk Highway when he lost control of his vehicle "due to icy roadway conditions," police said. The sport utility vehicle went into the eastbound lane and struck the county bus head-on just west of Newlight Lane and Windmill Lane at about 6:50 a.m. Mr. Marin was pronounced dead at the scene.
No criminal charges were filed against the driver of the bus, Andrej Jaglowski, 50, of Riverhead, police said. Mr. Jaglowski was taken to Southampton Hospital by the Bridgehampton Fire Department ambulance. He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released.
The New York State Department of Transportation Motor Safety unit performed a safety check of the bus, and the Trailblazer has been impounded for a safety check.
Several accidents occurred around the Town of Southampton on Friday morning because of the road conditions. In fact, police said that about 10 minutes after the fatal accident occurred, another accident happened at the same location. No injuries were reported in that case.
Detectives have asked anyone who may have witnessed the accident to contact detectives at 631-702-2230. They also cautioned drivers to allow extra travel time and always use a seatbelt. Police did not indicate whether Mr. Marin had been wearing one.
Originally: The driver of a sport utility vehicle was killed in a collision with a Suffolk County bus on Montauk Highway in Bridgehampton Friday morning just before 7.
Southampton Town Police Sgt. Michael Joyce confirmed the fatality, but would not comment further, describing the investigation as ongoing. The accident occurred near the Hayground Market, and Montauk Highway was closed between Newlight Lane and Hayground Road while detectives took measurements of the accident scene. Sergeant Joyce said that there was ice on the road at the time.
The driver of the S.U.V. was declared dead at the scene. The Bridgehampton Fire Deparment responded with its heavy rescue truck, but it was not immediately used.
Police have not released the man's name, pending notification of his family.
The driver of the Suffolk County S92 transit bus, the county's "blue bus," was taken to Southampton Hospital. The bus, which had no passengers at the time, was headed to the East Hampton train station, where it begins its circuitous route across the East End.
Several other serious accidents occurred on Friday morning around the East End, mainly in the Town of Southampton. Highway trucks were out salting the roads Friday morning.