Suicide Follows D.W.I. Arrest

An Amagansett man who was charged with driving while intoxicated after crashing a 2002 Chevrolet into a tree on Friday afternoon apparently took his own life three days later.

Christopher A. Cosich, 47, a well-known physical trainer here and championship bodybuilder, drove off Abram’s Landing Road in Amagansett a few minutes after noon Friday, striking a tree, East Hampton Town police said. He appeared to be intoxicated, and told an officer he had been drinking since the night before, according to an arrest report on file at East Hampton Town Justice Court.

He told police he had fallen asleep at the wheel moments before the crash, the report said. Police confiscated a gun they found inside the car, and the car was towed away, Capt. Chris Anderson said.

A police report indicated that Mr. Cosich had complained of pain following the accident.

The arresting officer accompanied Mr. Cosich to Southampton Hospital in an Amagansett ambulance. There, Mr. Cosich agreed to have his blood-alcohol level checked. The officer issued him an appearance ticket for a Wednesday arraignment in East Hampton court.

Mr. Cosich was released from Southampton Hospital on Sunday afternoon.

Around midday Monday, police dispatchers were alerted to an apparent suicide at Mr. Cosich’s address on Devon Landing Drive.

Police are investigating the circumstances in which Mr. Cosich obtained the gun used in his suicide, as well as the apparently identical one they found in his wrecked car. “There are no indications of foul play,” Captain Anderson said.

Besides being a well-regarded personal fitness trainer and tournament-level bodybuilding coach, Mr. Cosich was also involved in volunteer work with military veterans and was a founder of Honor Flight, which brings World War II veterans at no cost to Washington, D.C., to visit war memorials.

His funeral will be today at 5 p.m. at Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in East Hampton. Visiting hours are from 2 to 6 p.m. there today as well.

A June 1 memorial is being planned.

News of his death prompted a large number of responses on Facebook. One person, David Schupp, wrote, “Chris literally made the world a better place, the biggest muscle on him was his huge heart. He [was] the kind of person who made you want to be a better person just by knowing him.”