Huntington Supervisor Chad Lupinacci strikes pole in car crash, walks away uninjured, town official says

Huntington Town Supervisor Chad Lupinacci hit a utility pole in his town-issued vehicle last week in Melville, then walked away from the scene, a town official said Wednesday.

Police said Lupinacci was driving south on West Hills Road when his vehicle slid on wet pavement and struck a utility pole 50 feet north of Chichester Road. There were no injuries reported in the single-vehicle crash, Suffolk County Police said.

Town spokeswoman Lauren Lembo said in an email that Lupinacci was driving a 2018 Chevy Tahoe when he skidded on wet pavement on a curve and struck the pole. When asked for an interview with Lupinacci, Lembo responded for him.

Lembo said the crash happened around the corner from the supervisor’s home in Melville. She said he was in shock, couldn’t find his cellphone and walked away from the scene to get help from a neighbor to call police. He encountered a passing motorist and asked them to call police, Lembo said.

Suffolk Police said a call about the crash came in at 12:45 a.m. on Aug. 8. Police said he was alone in the vehicle. No citations were issued, according to Lembo.

In response to questions from Newsday on Wednesday, including whether a field sobriety test or a Breathalyzer was administered to Lupinacci, whether he was issued a ticket for leaving the scene of an accident and where police officers encountered the supervisor, at his home or near the accident, police said in an email: "We are working on this, but the officer who responded is not in today. As soon as we get details, we will let you know."

The town’s General Services towed the vehicle to the repair shop. Lembo said the vehicle sustained $22,000 in damage and is being repaired at a shop on contract with the town.