Several recent accidents on local roads involved young drivers.
On Saturday afternoon, a father was teaching his daughter to drive when, in his 2021 Volvo, she tried a left turn from Ocean Avenue to James Lane. East Hampton Village police said she failed to yield to an oncoming 2019 Honda whose driver believed he had the right of way, and there was a minor fender-bender.
On July 20, the driver of a 1999 Toyota was trying to parallel-park on North Main Street in East Hampton and hit a parked 2006 Hyundai, whose driver was in the car. The Toyota driver had a learner’s permit, as did the young woman in Saturday’s incident; his passenger, like that teen’s father, had a valid driver’s license.
Also in recent dust-ups, a 17-year-old East Hampton girl with a 6-year-old passenger in her 2016 Dodge minivan struck a telephone pole on northbound Springs-Fireplace Road at Grant Avenue on Friday shortly after 3 p.m. She told police that the young boy “began screaming in the back seat,” and she hit the pole when she turned around to check on him. The teen driver was a bit bruised, and the child experienced whiplash, according to a police report, but it was unclear whether either of them needed medical attention. Rapid Recovery towed the van away.
Later that day, another 17-year-old East Hampton driver was behind the wheel of a 2002 Ford suburban when, according to police, she made a left turn into a parking lot on Long Lane near Roberts Lane without yielding to an oncoming driver in a 2018 Dodge sedan. That driver, 22-year-old Bryan Siranaula of East Hampton, and his passenger, Pamela Chumbi, also 22, both complained of injuries. Mr. Siranaula said he experienced head pain; Ms. Chumbi had minor facial bleeding. The 17-year-old reported arm pain, but neither driver nor passenger was immediately taken to a hospital. Hammer Towing removed both vehicles from the scene.
On Sunday at around 4:30 p.m., Natasha Deckmann of New York City, 45, told police she had become distracted by her cellphone GPS while driving on West Gate Road at Exeter Lane in Wainscott. Her 2017 Land Rover was hit by a 2021 BMW being driven by David L. Shorenstein, also of New York, who had proceeded through the intersection without stopping, according to a police report. Mr. Shorenstein and Ms. Deckmann's 5-year-old passenger were uninjured, but Ms. Deckmann had a minor cut on her face. She was ticketed under the state’s no-cellphone traffic law. Both vehicles needed towing, so Rapid Recovery was called in to help.
This story has been updated since it was first published.
