Cops: 2 hurt in Southampton motorcycle DWI

A drunken biker who'd been drag racing on a county road crashed and seriously hurt himself after the impact sent him flying off the motorcycle, Southampton Town police said.

Police said Thursday night's crash at about 9:17 p.m. "demolished" the 2001 Harley-Davidson being driven by the biker, Robert M. Rogers, 48, of Westhampton. He was later arrested on charges including engaging in an unlawful speed contest, driving while intoxicated, aggravated unlicensed driving and assault.

Rogers was likely charged with assault because his passenger, Melody Clifford, 39, was hurt, though she did not suffer life-threatening injuries. She was flown by helicopter to Stony Brook University Medical Center.

The crash happened on County Road 105, south of Flanders Road in Riverside. Rogers was southbound on CR 105 and racing another motorcycle "at a high rate of speed," police said. Rogers lost control of the motorcycle, which went into the grass median and overturned. Both Rogers and Clifford were ejected.

Rogers was treated at Peconic Bay Medical Center, where medics realized he was more seriously hurt than initially believed. Cops then released him from police custody and issued him appearance tickets for the criminal charges, and medics brought him to Stony Brook "for more extensive medical treatment," police said.

Southampton Police Sgt. Michael Joyce said an accident reconstruction was pending.

Police did not immediately say how fast the motorcycles were speeding, whether they identified the other motorcyclist or whether Rogers had been tested for intoxication. They also did not give the extent of each person's injuries or explain how they determined that Rogers had been drag racing.