Teen Hit Tree, Police Say, Then Took Off Into the Night

An 18-year-old East Hampton man fled on foot, police said, after he crashed a car while driving drunk in Amagansett on Saturday night just after midnight. 

Police said the young man, whose name was withheld because he is eligible for youthful offender status, was behind the wheel of a 2003 Chrysler Sebring convertible, heading east on Town Lane, when he swerved off the south side of the road near Windmill Lane and hit a tree around 12:10 a.m. 

He was located and taken into custody by 1:30 a.m., although the police did not disclose how they tracked him down. Elisa Gonzalez of Montauk owns the Sebring.

The teen told the officer that he had tried to make a righthand turn onto Windmill Lane, but struck the tree instead. He refused any medical attention, police said. 

He was charged with driving while in-

toxicated, a misdemeanor, and two traffic violations, including leaving the scene of an accident. East Hampton Town Justice Steven Tekulsky released him on his own recognizance. 

A 39-year-old East Hamptoner was also charged with D.W.I. on Saturday. Carlos A. Saquicaray-Loja was driving a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado when police saw him veering into oncoming traffic on Route 114, near Stonewall Court, at about 6:40 p.m. He was pulled over by police who said he appeared intoxicated. He was held overnight and arraigned on a misdemeanor D.W.I. charge the next day. Justice Tekulsky released him on $250 bail. 

In other arrests this week, Brian K. Midgett, 27, of Amagansett was charged with second-degree criminal contempt, a misdemeanor, on Friday. According to police, Mr. Midgett disobeyed a court order to stay away from his former girlfriend. Police only brought charges on 

Friday, though they said he was inside her home on Dec. 17, when they went to investigate a separate incident. The order of protection had been served in court back in April 2018. 

Mr. Midgett was given an appearance ticket and released on his own recognizance. 

Christian F. Morales, 24, of Springs was arrested on Jan. 26 on a misdemeanor charge of leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in an injury. Police said Mr. Morales was driving a 2004 Ford on President Street, near Harbor Boulevard, on Dec. 1 at about 1:15 a.m. when he hit a tree. His passenger sustained a laceration to the face, but Mr. Morales fled on foot. Mr. Morales was released with an appearance ticket and will appear in court at a  future date.