Police investigate death of pedestrian hit by vehicle in Hamptons

Police are investigating the death of pedestrian who was hit by a vehicle Wednesday night while walking on the shoulder of Montauk Highway in East Hampton.

Harry Greenfield, 72, of Lighthouse, Florida, was struck by a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee whose unlicensed driver had “reportedly swerved to avoid hitting a deer and subsequently struck the victim,” police said Thursday in a news release.

Greenfield was taken by ambulance to Southampton Hospital where he died from his injuries, police said.

The driver, Jose Cifuentes-Monzon, 32, of East Hampton, was not charged criminally but he was cited for motor violations including operating without a license and improper lane usage, police said.

Cifuentes-Monzon was driving the Grand Cherokee east on Montauk Highway at about 6:30 p.m. when the accident occurred in front of Café Max restaurant, police said.

His vehicle was impounded for a safety check.

East Hampton village police is investigating the accident with the assistance of the East Hampton town police.

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.”