East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen, 59, was driving a 2009 Audi S.U.V. on the morning of Oct. 3, when it was rear-ended by a 2012 Subaru Forester driven by Audrey Gaines, 82, of East Hampton. Construction had caused Mr. Larsen to come to a full stop on Accabonac Road, near Lily Hill Lane in the village, and Ms. Gaines told police she didn’t notice. She complained of neck pain and was taken by ambulance to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. The Subaru was towed by Rapid Recovery. Mayor Larsen was uninjured and his car did not require a tow.
Another accident, also involving two East Hampton residents, occurred on the afternoon of Oct. 5 on Springs-Fireplace Road, close to East Hampton Drive West. Kelly Smith, 62, was driving a 2021 Jeep when a 2006 GMC van, driven by Vernon Bennett, also 62, rear-ended it. Mr. Bennett told police he’d taken his eyes off the road to look down for something, and when he looked up he didn’t have the time to stop. Ms. Smith complained of neck pain but chose not to go to the hospital.