Why did the deer cross the road?
Because rutting season is in full swing, leading to at least 10 deer-versus-car collisions over the last week on local roads. No injuries to drivers were reported, but in many cases, vehicle damage was estimated at more than $1,000. Crashes were most often in the early morning or at twilight.
Two of the accidents occurred on Oct. 20 within less than half an hour at nearly the same location — Montauk Highway at Spring Close Highway in East Hampton, one at 5:19 p.m. and the other soon after, at 5:42 p.m. Collisions were also reported that day on Route 114 near Goodfriend Drive, at 6:25 a.m., and in Montauk at 9:43 a.m., on Route 27 near Lincoln Road.
Deer were to blame again twice on the highway in Amagansett: last Friday at 8:25 a.m. near Shipwreck Drive and the next day at 4:36 p.m. near Handy Lane.
There was only one accident on the roads that resulted in injury. On Saturday around 3 p.m., Christian Figueroa, a 26-year-old East Hampton man, sustained a concussion when his 2014 Volkswagen was rear-ended and then pushed into the vehicle ahead. Yasmin Marin of East Hampton, 58, driving a 2003 Mercedes, told police she had not seen Mr. Figueroa’s car slowing down on Springs-Fireplace Road near West Drive, where the accident occurred. After she collided with Mr. Figueroa’s car, it struck a 2002 Jeep driven by Jessica Paredes of East Hampton, 23. Bonac Buy and Sell and JSM Auto Repair towed Ms. Marin’s and Mr. Figueroa’s cars.
Last Thursday evening, two Montauk Fire Department vehicles were involved in a minor crash on South Fairview Avenue near Fairfield Drive while responding to an emergency at a house. An ambulance with its lights flashing struck the fire department’s Chevy Tahoe, which had been parked in the driveway and had its rear liftgate open. Neither driver was injured and neither vehicle needed towing.