Cops: Teen killed in E. Quogue DWI crash

An 18-year-old who just graduated from high school was killed in a single-car crash late Sunday, and the car's 17-year-old driver was charged with driving while intoxicated after the vehicle went out of control and flipped in front of an East Quogue home, police said.

Cameron Nicholls of Quogue, a recent graduate of Westhampton Beach High School, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which police said occurred about 11:15 p.m. Sunday.

The driver of the 2007 Honda, Taylor Geib, of East Quogue, was taken to Brookhaven Hospital Medical Center, where his condition was not available Monday. Along with the drunken driving charge, Geib was also issued a summons for unsafe speed and failure to maintain his lane, police said. Police said additional charges are expected. They did not elaborate.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the families," said Lynn Schwartz, superintendent of the Westhampton Beach school district. "He had a large following and was a very nice young man."

Police said Geib was driving south on Lewis Road in East Quogue when he lost control near Mitchell Place, crossing into the northbound lane. He returned to the southbound lane, drove onto the front lawn of a Lewis Road home, overturned and struck a vehicle parked in the driveway, police said.

Monday night at a vigil held at the East Quogue Village Green, nearly 200 classmates and friends held candles and shared memories of Nicholls, whom they described as friendly and outgoing and on his way to college in Massachusetts in the fall.

"I can't believe he is gone. I loved him so much," said Talia Rosmarin, 17, a friend who lives in Westhampton.

Jackie Saccente, 16, who lives in Westhampton Beach and helped organize the vigil, said "Taylor is a really good kid."

At the vigil, close to where the crash occurred, mourners stood in a circle as they talked of Nicholls. Others lit candles.

He worked as a windsurfing instructor at Hampton Watersports in Southampton, said John Ford, the shop's owner.

"A great kid," Ford said of Nicholls.

He said Nicholls took windsurfing lessons when he was younger with the Southampton Town program, run by Hampton Watersports. He volunteered for the program and was hired last year, Ford said. Nicholls worked Saturday and Sunday, the day of his graduation.

"It's heart-wrenching," said Ford. "He had an excellent work ethic . . . and really loved his job."

With Stacey Altherr

and Bill Mason