Two crashes in Westhampton leave Bellmore nun dead, three injured, state police say
Two separate crashes less than 30 minutes apart in Southampton Town Thursday afternoon left a Bellmore nun dead and three others injured, State Police said.
The first two-car crash occurred at 1:42 p.m. on Sunrise Highway eastbound near Exit 63 when a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu struck the rear of a 2011 Toyota Corolla in the eastbound lane, authorities said.
The operator of the Corolla, Sister Josephine Dagostino, 85, died at the scene while the driver of the Malibu, Maria Rivera, 39, of Yaphank sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center.
There were no passengers in either vehicle, State Police said.
With the roadway blocked by the fatal collision, a separate crash occurred at 2:08 p.m. on Sunrise Highway west of Exit 63 when a tractor trailer operated by John Bieber, 58, of Baiting Hollow slowed in traffic and was struck in the rear by three vehicles.
Those three vehicles were driven by Olga Allende-Hernandez, 53, of Calverton; Adrian Flores-Garcia, 45, of Elmhurst and Richard Nigro, 88, of Center Moriches.
Flores-Garcia and Allende-Hernandez were taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
Part of the crash scene on Sunrise Highway between Exit 61 and Exit 63 Thursday. Officials say initially ten cars were involved and one driver was killed. Credit: Newsday/Vera Chinese
An incorrect earlier report from Westhampton and Suffolk County Fire Rescue Services officials indicated that one of the two crashes involved 10 vehicles.
Westhampton War Memorial Ambulance Chief Bob Bancroft said New York State Police, Southampton Town Police, the Westhampton Beach Fire Department and ambulance crews from Hampton Bays Volunteer, Flanders-Northampton Volunteer and East Moriches Ambulance all responded to the scenes.
The investigation into both crashes was ongoing.
With John Valenti and Vera Chinese
Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.
Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.
Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.
