Teenager Airlifted to Stony Brook; Two Accidents Involving Taxicabs in Montauk Last Week

A 17-year-old who was seriously injured early Sunday morning when his car turned over on North Haven faces misdemeanor charges of driving recklessly and without a license.

Southampton Town police said James Peralta Sanchima of Noyac was the only person inside a 2003 GMC pickup truck that they found overturned on Short Beach Road, near Route 114, at 4:13 a.m. The young man was headed south, according to the report, when he lost control and struck several mailboxes. The truck came to rest across the opposite lane. Detective Sgt. Lisa Costa said Mr. Sanchima had no license, not even a learner’s permit.

The Sag Harbor Fire Department and the Sag Harbor Volunteer Ambulance Corps responded to the accident. The teenager was airlifted from Havens Beach to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was listed in serious but stable condition on Sunday. On Tuesday, his condition was upgraded to good. He will be arraigned in Southampton Town Justice Court at a later date.

Out in Montauk at about 6:45 p.m. on Friday, a Montauk man was also airlifted to Stony Brook after his 1993 Ford pickup truck hit a taxicab that was turning left onto Flamingo Avenue. The driver of the cab, Thomas E. McMorrow of New York City, a reporter for The East Hampton Star, was ticketed for failure to yield.

Joseph Hodnik, 24, was southbound on Flamingo when the accident occurred. Mr. McMorrow, who was driving a 2002 Honda for Surf Taxi, told East Hampton Town police he was entering the road from an unfinished asphalt road about 500 feet northeast of Wills Point Road, when the collision occurred. His airbag went off.

Mr. Hodnik, who had been wearing a seat belt, had severe bleeding from the head, according to the accident report. Emergency responders with the Montauk Fire Department took him to East Hampton Airport to meet a medevac helicopter. The hospital has since released him.

Mr. McMorrow, 59, who also complained of head pain, was taken by the Montauk Fire Department ambulance to Southampton Hospital, where he was treated and released. Both vehicles were towed.

Another Friday-night accident on Flamingo Avenue also involved a taxi. Stalenyn P. Diaz, 24, of New York City, was driving a 2008 Dodge van for 668 MTK Taxi when he hit a bicyclist, who suffered minor injuries. Mr. Diaz told police he was crossing the intersection at Flamingo and Kirk Avenues and did not see Gavin Smith, a 21-year-old Montauk man who was riding north. Mr. Smith told police he wasn’t able to avoid the collision and fell. He suffered a minor abrasion on his back, according to the accident report, and was taken to Southampton Hospital.

Two people were injured Saturday evening in a three-car pileup on Montauk Highway on Napeague, west of Old Montauk Highway.

James E. Budd, 21, of East Hampton, told police he was driving west at about 5:35 p.m. when a car in front of him stopped suddenly. He reported tapping its back bumper, causing minor damage to his 2007 Toyota pickup truck, and no damage to the other car, which left the scene. Mr. Budd’s truck was then hit by a 2007 Hyundai, driven by Erica D. Amos, 44, of Hampton Bays. The airbags in the Hyundai deployed.

Both Ms. Amos and her passenger, Arlene Thompson, 48, complained of chest pain and were taken by an Amagansett Fire Department ambulance to Southampton Hospital. Mr. Budd and his passenger did not report injuries.

One driver complained of neck pain after his 2015 Toyota sedan was rear-ended Friday morning at a red light. Tracy L. Smith, 23, of Aquebogue was waiting at Montauk Highway and Cross Highway in Amagansett, near Brent’s, when a 2002 Chevrolet sedan ran into his car, at about 9:50 a.m. Gabriella P. Penati, 20, of East Hampton, told police she “was somehow distracted while driving and did not notice the light had changed to red and was unable to stop in time.” Mr. Smith was taken by an Amagansett Fire Department ambulance to Southampton Hospital.