Police: Bridgehampton man charged in Sunrise Highway road rage

A Bridgehampton man faces charges in a road rage incident Tuesday in Eastport during which he rammed another car with his pickup truck, causing a crash, and then punched that driver in the face, State Police said.

Michael J. Cavilla, 60, was charged with third-degree assault and second-degree reckless endangerment and was issued an appearance ticket returnable to Southampton Town Justice Court on March 8, police said.

State Police said Cavilla, driving a 2014 Dodge Ram pickup, cut off the driver of a Hyundai Accent just before exiting Sunrise Highway at Exit 62 about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Then, as the vehicles traveled on the exit ramp, Cavilla struck the Hyundai from behind — causing the car to become stuck on the snow-covered shoulder, police said.

Cavilla then exited his truck and initiated a verbal confrontation with the Hyundai driver that culminated with Cavilla punching that driver in the face, police said. The assault caused undisclosed injuries, police said.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”