Josue Briones, 24, of East Hampton was driving west near High Street, a small street off Abraham's Path in East Hampton, early on March 27 when, he told police, the steering wheel in his 2019 Nissan "locked up."
He lost control, crossed the road, and struck a tree, causing over $1,000 worth of damage to the front of the car and injuring himself. He complained of abdominal pain and was transported by ambulance to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital for evaluation, though not until being ticketed, police said, for driving with a revoked license. The car was towed by Bonac Buy & Sell. Mr. Briones will appear in East Hampton Town Justice Court on April 20 to answer the license charge.
There were conflicting claims about a March 28 accident that happened on Route 27 just before the Napeague stretch. Jorge Guanga, 46, of Montauk, was heading west that morning in a 2005 Toyota pickup, with a 15-year-old passenger, when, he told police, icy conditions caused him to lose control and cross the double yellow lines. The pickup collided head-on with an oncoming 2019 Dodge van driven by Christopher Merz of Mattituck, 62.
Mr. Merz told East Hampton Town police that Mr. Guanga was driving over the speed limit when he lost control. That accusation was corroborated by an independent witness, Elmer Vazquez, who said he had seen Mr. Guanga driving too fast just before the accident and passing other westbound vehicles by crossing the double yellow line.
Both drivers complained of chest pain and were taken in ambulances to the hospital for treatment. The pickup and the van were both towed.
