Drag-racing crash sends 3 to hospital

Two Hampton Bays men face misdemeanor charges after a drag racing crash that sent one driver and two passengers to local hospitals.

Southampton Town Police said Erick Jimenez, 18, and Esteban Vazquez, 20, were racing eastbound on School Street near Trail Road in Hampton Bays Friday night when Jimenez lost control of his 1999 Hyundai Accent, then struck a fence and a tree before stopping a few feet from a house.

Jimenez and a 17-year-old woman riding in his car were taken to Southampton Hospital. A 20-year-old man in his car was transferred by helicopter to Stony Brook University Medical Center.

Vazquez, who drove a 1996 Nissan Altima, was not injured.

Both men face misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment, unauthorized drag racing, third-degree assault and reckless driving. Vazquez also faces a charge of driving while impaired by drugs.

The two were to be arraigned at Southampton Town Justice Court. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Southampton Town Police Tips hotline at (631) 728-3454.