Four people are confirmed dead after an alleged drunk driver slammed into a limousine on Route 48 in Cutchogue Saturday afternoon, according to Southold Town police chief Martin Flatley.

The driver of the limousine, which had eight passengers inside, had left Vineyard 48 and was attempting to make a u-turn near Depot Lane shortly before 5:30 p.m. when his vehicle was t-boned by a red extended cab pickup truck, Chief Flatley said.

Three of the victims died on scene and the fourth died at Peconic Bay Medical Center, Chief Flatley said. All four victims were from the New York City area, police said.

The driver of the truck, a North Fork resident whose identity has not yet been released, is being charged with DWI, Chief Flatley said. The driver is expected to be arraigned Sunday, he said.

“As we came around, all we saw were bodies out the left side of the vehicle, hanging out,” said Lynne Lulfs, a Hampton Bays woman who witnessed the accident.

No names of the victims have been released. Witnesses reported that the victims in the limo were bridesmaids, though no additional details were immediately available.

“It was surreal; it did not look real,” Ms. Lulfs said.

The aftermath of the fatal accident Saturday in Cutchogue. (Credit: AJ Ryan/Stringer News)

Two people were taken to PBMC, including one of the victims who died, two to Stony Brook University Hospital and two to Eastern Long Island Hospital, Chief Flatley said.

Two Suffolk County police helicopters assisted in the rescue, landing directly on Route 48, which remained closed in both directions for several hours. The road was open again by 11:40 p.m.

Ms. Lulfs said the truck was nearly completely through the limo. She said the man who was driving the truck was sitting on the tailgate, drinking water as people rushed to assist the victims.

“It was as if to say, ‘I know I’ve done wrong, come get me,’ ” Ms. Lulfs said.

Witnessing the tragedy hit home for Ms. Lulfs, who said her father died in a car accident when she was young.

“This will resonate with us forever,” she said.

Former Suffolk Times publisher Troy Gustavson of Orient said he drove past the accident right after it happened, before first responders had arrived.

“It was obviously a very high-speed accident,” Mr. Gustavson said.

Fire crews from Cutchogue, Mattituck, East Marion, Greenport, Southold, Jamesport and East Marion were all on scene.

Ruth Urwand, who lives on Depot Lane, said the site is a frequent spot for accidents and she believes a regular stoplight should replace the blinking light that’s currently there.

joew@timesreview.com

A Suffolk County police helicopter transports a victim from Saturday’s crash. (Credit: TIm Gannon)

Fire crews on scene of Saturday’s accident. (Credit: Tim Gannon)

What wonderful weekend weather we’ve had. I spent a few hours out on the beautiful local waters and I have to say I’m confused. When I was a kid, you waved at every boat you passed, be it motor or sail. I still practice this and when my children were little they joined in. But these days, we get more stares than waves. I realize our pontoon boat is fairly uncommon here — kind of a floating patio — but why not wave back? When did this age-old practice become so uncommon?

Birthday news: Jack Reilly, July 18; William Grzegorczyk and Deanna Walker, July 19; Lucas Grigonis, July 20; Erin Kaelin, Darlene Fulda, Melinda Hanold and me, July 21; Richard Osmer and Carolann Losquadro, July 22; Chris Reilly, July 24; Yao Yao Reilly; July 26; Kaitlyn Kettenbeil and Susan Boivin, July 29; and Melanie Grigonis, July 30. Happy birthday one and all!

Happy 30th wedding anniversary to Robert and Robin Klotz. Here’s to many more!

The town animal shelter is seeking donations of sheets, blankets and dry dog and cat food. Items can be dropped off at the Peconic Lane facility between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Southold Elementary student Katie Heath will perform during an Opera of the Hamptons event at Duck Walk Vineyard this Saturday, July 18. The “Broadway to Opera” concert, in memory of vineyard founder Dr. Herodotus Damianos, features Cristina Fontanelli and starts at 7 p.m. Get there early and bring a picnic dinner to enjoy under our beautiful skies. For tickets, visit brownpapertickets.com/event/1673300 or call 1-800-838-3006 for event 1673300.

CAST turns 50 this year and is seeking memories and information to mark the occasion from former board members, friends, supporters, donors and clients. If you have recollections to share, contact director Linda Ruland at 477-1717 or lruland@castsoutholdtown.org.

The Southold Historical Society is busy! A couture and antique clothing sale takes place next Thursday-Saturday, July 23-25, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Reichert Family Center’s Cosden-Price Gallery on Main Road. Proceeds from sales of handbags, dresses, hats, shoes and more will be added to a $7,500 grant the society has received for textile conservation work on a silk banner from the Civil War and Lincoln’s presidential campaign.

‘Local Color,’ an exhibit of oils, acrylics and watercolors by members of the Cloud 9 artists group, takes over the Cosden-Price Gallery July 31 through Aug. 15. Their work will be on view there Thursdays through Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m.

Finally, the historical society has released a new book of historic photographs, “All That is Lovely: George Brainerd’s Images of the North Fork, 1878-1879.” Though Mr. Brainerd was primarily associated with Brooklyn, his work holds special meaning for Long Islanders, as he captured and created a record of what the island was like before suburban development. It is available for $30 at the SHS museum gift shop. For information about the book or any society events, call 765-5000.

My next deadline is July 26 at noon. Please send your information along so we may celebrate with you.

I also want you all to go play tourist in your own neighborhood. Rediscover all the wonder and beauty that the North Fork has to offer. Remember to take it slow and watch the traffic. Take your time — and smile!

Contact Southold columnist Tina Koslosky at SoutholdTina@aol.com or 631-765-2774.

Life after death is something most of us have thought about. Recent best-selling books such as “Proof of Heaven” by Eben Alexander, “To Heaven and Back” by Mary Neal, and “The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven” by Kevin and Alex Malarkey, suggest that there is.

For those of you who have been longtime players at Island’s End Golf Course in Greenport and have played the course recently, you may now be a believer in reincarnation. I can read your lips: “Oh boy, here he goes. What the heck is the golf guy talking about now?”

I am talking about the miraculous rebirth of the eighth green at Island’s End after many had given it its last rites.

Through the years when people asked me where I regularly played golf, I would tell them Island’s End. “Oh yeah, that’s one of the best 17-hole courses around,” many would say, alluding to the fact that the eighth green was usually in pretty bad shape and not worth playing.

Over the years the powers that be at Island’s End tried everything. Soil tests, different chemicals and fertilizers, and various maintenance techniques. I was there one day a few years ago when the United States Golf Association came in with its soil experts to try to figure out what the problem was. No one had an answer and nothing seemed to work. Nothing, that is, until recently. Enter Gregory Fox, the Island’s End course superintendent. In a short period of time, Fox has turned the longtime troubled eighth green into a smooth, emerald carpet. So, how did Fox do it? First, a little about this golf course magician.

Raised in Port Jefferson, Fox has always had a love of the outdoors and nature. After graduating from Post Junior College in Connecticut, Fox went to work in the corporate world as a sales representative for a major jewelry company. After spending a few years in a suit and tie, Fox realized this type of work was not his cup of tea.

Looking for a change, he began working at a fitness center along with working at Harbor Hills Golf Club in Port Jefferson. “I thought I was stopping by at Harbor Hills for a season or so,” Fox said. “After a few years they put me in charge.”

In 2002 Fox left Long Island with his wife and moved to the Berkshires so he could enjoy the outdoor activities he loved, such as rock climbing, canoeing and skiing. They eventually returned to Long Island after becoming grandparents and Fox quickly found work again in the golf course maintenance business, working his magic at many courses in the Northeast, including Winged Foot Golf Club, Atlantic Golf Club and Sebonac Golf Club.

Island’s End contacted Fox in the fall of 2013. “I spent 10 days at the course before they hired me, checking watering schedules, chemical uses, and I took core samples from every green on the course,” Fox said.

Fox continued his resuscitation process by drilling and filling holes on the eighth green and other troubled greens on the course. Bringing out the heavy artillery, Fox brought in a piece of equipment called the Shock Wave, which is normally not used on greens but rather on harder surfaces. “The eighth green was so bad I figured I had nothing to lose. The Shock Wave produced good results on the edges, so I did the whole green.”

After nurturing the green by overseeding and spiking constantly, Fox and others crossed their fingers and awaited the results. After a little more than a year, the green came back to life. “I’m taking if off life support,” he told the head professional, Bill Fish.

Fox refers to the greens as “my girls” and takes tremendous pride in his role as superintendent. “I don’t like losing, and revitalizing and saving the eighth green and the others was a challenge I wanted to win,” he said. “This isn’t a job for me, it’s a passion.”

19TH HOLE Bunker Boes was on vacation and went into the clubhouse after his round. The head pro asked, “Did you have a good time out there today?”

Bunker responded, “Fabulous, thank you.”

The pro then said, “How did you find the greens?”

Bunker thought for a minute and replied: “Oh, that was easy. I just walked to the end of the fairways and there they were.”

[Caption: The Island’s End Golf Course superintendent, Gregory Fox, on the restored eighth green.]

It’s not an exaggeration to compare Southold resident Harry Katz’s backyard to the produce section of a small grocery store.

Mr. Katz’s 200-foot-long garden, which he planted two decades ago after moving to his home near Horton Point Lighthouse, features at least 45 varieties — everything from sweet potatoes and mustard greens to zucchini and watermelon.

“I have broccoli, cauliflower, peas, lettuces, cabbages, all sorts of beans,” the 62-year-old said last week. “I really try to grow just about every type of crop you could get at a market.”

A Plainview native who co-owns Echo Arms Adult Home in Port Jefferson Station with his wife, Ana, Mr. Katz used to ride his bicycle to the North Fork from Nassau County, admiring the work ethic of the area’s numerous farmers.

“I remember thinking, ‘There are still people here on Long Island doing this wonderful work,’ı” he said. “They inspired me to really start gardening.”

While his two-acre property is impressively cultivated today, Mr. Katz’s initial foray into gardening wasn’t an all-out success. He had to learn through trial and error how to make it thrive.

“[The garden] was much smaller and I was very naïve,” he recalled. “I had no idea the damage deer and rabbits would do to an unfenced property and how quickly weeds would grow, so I really didn’t have much luck the first year.”

Undeterred, Mr. Katz erected a 10-foot-high mesh fence and kept planting. He now devotes around 16 hours every weekend to tilling, fertilizing, harvesting and weeding. And his wife often joins him when she isn’t tending to their egg-laying chickens.

“They spend hours out there,” said the Katz’s son, Carlos, 27, who isn’t involved in the garden’s upkeep but counts asparagus among his favorite crops. “I think my parents are some of the few people in Southold who can say that when they have dinner, 70 percent or so of the ingredients are a product of their own work.”

Incorporating his vegetables into meals like kielbasa with peppers and new potatoes is one of the elder Mr. Katz’s hobbies, but he said planting his own produce doesn’t save him much money over purchasing it from a grocery store. It costs him $350 a year just to have someone maintain his Honda Rototiller, which he uses to plow.

Despite this — and the “constant battle against weeds, some of which have thorny vines that can pierce your skin just about on contact” — Mr. Katz hasn’t given up.

“It’s my hobby and I feel I have something to show for my physical labors when I’m done,” he explained, adding that he and his wife sometimes bring extra produce to the residents at Echo Arms. “If you’re going to have a serious garden, it’s not something that can be done with half attention.”

So far this year, Mr. Katz’s crops are faring well, something he attributes to this summer’s “perfect amount of warm weather and rain.” His five varieties of potatoes are now ripe and his garlic bulbs are large enough to make an Italian nonna weep with joy. Even the catnip he grows for the family’s cat, Rohan, is flourishing.

“You don’t have to be super-techy or intelligent to raise a garden,” Mr. Katz said. “God made all these types of food available for us to utilize and man somehow developed the skills to do what God intended for him to do.”

ryoung@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Harry Katz harvests potatoes last week. (Credit: Rachel Young)

They were all 23 and 24 years old, their whole lives seemingly ahead of them.

They were visiting the North Fork to celebrate a major event in one of their friends’ lives.

Then, as the driver of the limousine they booked to help keep them safe on a trip to local wineries attempted to make a U-turn on Route 48 and Depot Lane in Cutchogue, the lives of the four friends came to a tragic end Saturday. 

Steve Romeo, 55, of Southold was charged with driving while intoxicated after his pickup truck allegedly t-boned the limousine while traveling westbound along County Road 48 shortly after 5 p.m.

The crash took the lives of Brittany Schuman, 23, of Smithtown; Lauren Baruch, 24, of Smithtown; Stephanie Belli, 23, of Kings Park; and Amy Grabina, 23, of Commack.

The aftermath of the fatal accident Saturday in Cutchogue. (Credit: AJ Ryan/Stringer News)

Three of the victims died on scene and the fourth died at Peconic Bay Medical Center, Southold Town police chief Martin Flatley said.

Injured but surviving the crash were four additional passengers: Joelle Dimonti, 25, of Elwood; Melissa Crai, 23, of Scarsdale; Alicia Arundel, 24, of Setauket; and Olga Lipets, 24, of Brooklyn. The driver of the limousine, 58-year-old Carlos Pino of Bethpage, was also treated for non-life threatening injuries at a Suffolk County hospital.

The limo had just left Vineyard 48 and was heading east before the driver attempted the ill-fated turn.

Fire crews from Cutchogue, Mattituck, East Marion, Greenport, Southold and Jamesport all responded to the scene. Two Suffolk County police helicopters assisted in the rescue, landing directly on Route 48, which remained closed in both directions for several hours. The road was open again by 11:40 p.m.

A Suffolk County police helicopter transports a victim from Saturday’s crash. (Credit: Tim Gannon)

The crash scene was devastating to those with the misfortune to drive past it Saturday.

“As we came around, all we saw were bodies out the left side of the vehicle, hanging out,” said Lynne Lulfs, a Hampton Bays woman who witnessed the accident. “It was surreal; it did not look real.”

Witnessing the tragedy hit home for Ms. Lulfs, who said her father died in a car accident when she was young.

“This will resonate with us forever,” she said.

Fire crews on scene of Saturday’s accident. (Credit: Tim Gannon)

Neighbors of the intersection said it’s a frequent spot for crashes. Ruth Urwand, who lives on Depot Lane, said she believes a regular stoplight should replace the blinking light that’s currently there.

Assistant Suffolk County District Attorney Elizabeth Miller said additional charges are expected in the case as Mr. Romeo is currently facing just one misdemeanor drunk driving charge.

“At this time we are continuing the investigation and looking at upgrading the charges,” she said, adding that Mr. Romeo is due in Southold Town Justice Court Friday.

When asked about the emotional state of his client, defense attorney Dan O’Brien of Nesconset said, “It’s a tough, tough situation.” He declined to say where Mr. Romeo was headed at the time of the crash.

Ms. Miller said one of the women was “a bride,” and the friends were celebrating “an upcoming event.”

“I don’t believe it was a bridal party, but they were celebrating,” she said in reference to reports that the women visited the North Fork for a bachelorette party.

News of the fatal crash led friends and family of the victims to post memories of them on social media.

An anguished man who answered the phone at Ms. Baruch’s house Sunday afternoon declined to comment, saying only that he couldn’t talk. “I’m sorry,” he said.

‘Soaring through the jungle in Mexico!’ reads the caption on this photo on Amy Grabina’s Facebook profile. (Credit: Facebook)

One Commack woman, who asked to be identified only as the mother of one of Ms. Grabina’s friends said “she was such a vibrant girl.”

“She tried everything,” the woman said. “She was young — a young girl. I can’t even imagine what her parents are going through right now.”

According to her Facebook profile, Ms. Grabina graduated from Florida State University in 2014 and had been hired less than a month ago as a staff accountant at New York City firm Ernst & Young.

Steve Romeo in a Romeo Dimon Marine profile published in The Suffolk Times in 2010. (Credit: Courtesy)

Mr. Romeo pleaded not guilty at his bedside arraignment at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport, where he is being treated for non-life threatening injuries. Southold Town Justice Rudolph Breuer set cash bail at $500,000 or $1 million bond.

The Southold businessman was previously involved in a fatal accident in January 2014 at a construction site in Mattituck, when a 30-year-old worker was struck in the head and killed by a bucket that fell off of a skid-steer loader being operated by Mr. Romeo. He was not charged in that incident, but the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations and fined the business, in part because Mr. Romeo had not been trained to use the equipment he was operating.

Southold Town police Chief Martin Flatley leads detectives into Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport for the arraignment of Steve Romeo Sunday afternoon. (Credit: Vera Chinese)

A wrongful death suit filed by the worker’s family against Romeo Dimon Marine and the owner of the construction site is pending in New York State Supreme Court, online court records show.

A representative from Romeo Dimon Marine’s Southold office declined to comment on the fatal crash Sunday morning.

“It’s a private matter,” he told a Suffolk Times reporter, declining to identify himself. “It has nothing to do with business. I have no comment. Nothing to say to you.”

gparpan@timesreview.com

Top photo: The intersection of Depot Lane and Route 48 in Cutchogue where four women where killed when an alleged drunk driver plowed into the limo they were riding in on Saturday afternoon. (Credit: Vera Chinese)

A Suffolk County police helicopter transports a victim from Saturday’s crash. (Credit: TIm Gannon)

Fire crews on scene of Saturday’s accident. (Credit: Tim Gannon)

Looking for work? Check out the Times/Review classified section.

Looking for work, or know someone who is?

Times/Review classifieds offers local companies a place to advertise their job openings each week, and this week close to 60 positions are available from nurses to drivers to a marketing specialist

And for anyone interested in submitting a classified ad, email:classifieds@timesreview.com.

Check out the listings below:

APPLIANCE REPAIR TECHNICIAN: P/T, F/T. Residential. Reliable and experienced. 631-404-7270.

AUTO MECHANIC: Busy repair shop looking for a B Tech. 5 years’ experience. Own tools, clean driver’s license a must. F/T position available. Call Joann or Lisette at Country Auto, 631-325-0279.

BARTENDER: F/T, P/T available. Experienced. Must be friendly with knowledge of wine, beer and cock- tails. Point of sale experience a plus. Email resume to oldmillinn@aol.com

CAREGIVERS: F/T, P/T, 24-hour live-in. Flexible schedules. Kind, caring companions needed for in- home senior care. No certification necessary. Home Instead Senior Care, 631-594-2180.

CAREGIVERS: New-hire bonus! HHA, PCA and companions. F/T, P/ T, live-in, flexible schedules. Kind, caring, compassionate individuals to provide in-home care. Comfort Keepers, 631-369-6080.

CDL DRIVER: Class A needed with knowledge of metro NYC, NJ, CT. Possible long hauls to Florida. Clean driver’s license/references a must. Please send your credentials, info@saturfarms.com or call 631- 734-4219.

CONSTRUCTION FRAMER: F/T. Entry level, on the job training program. Prior carpentry experience a plus. Drug-free workplace. Apply at www.mortonbuildings.com or call 631-734-4060.

CUSTOMER SERVICE POSITION: P/T, seasonal. Helping at parts counter, stocking our shelves. Boating knowledge a plus. Lighthouse Marine Supply, 631-722-5700, ask for Pat.

DRIVER: P/T. CDL with passenger endorsement required. Ambulette experience. Riverhead/Hampton Bays area. Retirees welcome. 631-477-5912.

DRIVER: Southold resident seeks driver for 1-3 hours, Fridays/Saturdays. Clean license, reliable. 917-710-6143.

DRIVERS: F/T, P/T for limousine company. Town cars/stretches. Experience not necessary; will train. All shifts available. English-speaking/writing a plus. All cars are non-smoking. Non-smoking driver preferred. Please call 631-288-7777.

FARM HELP: Horse experience, able to drive. English-speaking a plus. For local farm in Mattituck. Call 631-872-4004.

FLOWER SHOP HELP: P/T. Varied duties. Call for details. 631-748-0937.

HAIRDRESSER: With following to rent chair in Calverton salon. Call Diana, 631-848-6469.

HOME HEALTH AIDE: In Cutchogue. Call Judy anytime at 631-276-7187.

HOTEL POSITIONS: Guest services assistant: F/T, P/T, through the fall season includes nights/weekends. Overnights (midnight- 8 a.m.). Applicant should be computer proficient, professional, reliable with strong interpersonal skills. Competitive compensation. Housekeeping: Seeking a detail-oriented, take-charge person with excellent house-keeping/organizational skills. English-speaking/writing skills a plus. Competitive compensation. Harborfront Inn, Greenport, and Cove Place, Aquebogue. Email resume/cover letter to Jacqueline, jdube@theharborfrontinn.com

They were all 23 and 24 years old, their whole lives seemingly ahead of them.

They were visiting the North Fork to celebrate a major event in one of their friend’s lives.

Then, as the driver of the limousine they had booked to help keep them safe during a trip to local wineries attempted to make a U-turn on Route 48 and Depot Lane in Cutchogue, the lives of the four friends came to a tragic end Saturday. 

Steve Romeo, 55, of Southold was charged with driving while intoxicated after his pickup truck allegedly t-boned the limousine while traveling west along County Road 48 shortly after 5 p.m.

The crash took the lives of Brittney Schulman, 23, of Smithtown; Lauren Baruch, 24, of Smithtown; Stephanie Belli, 23, of Kings Park; and Amy Grabina, 23, of Commack.

The aftermath of the fatal accident Saturday in Cutchogue. (Credit: AJ Ryan/Stringer News)

Three of the victims died at the scene and the fourth died at Peconic Bay Medical Center, Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley said.

Injured but surviving the crash were four additional passengers: Joelle Dimonti, 25, of Elwood; Melissa Crai, 23, of Scarsdale, N.Y.; Alicia Arundel, 24, of Setauket; and Olga Lipets, 24, of Brooklyn. The limousine driver, 58-year-old Carlos Pino of Bethpage, was treated for non-life threatening injuries at a Suffolk County hospital.

The limo had just left Vineyard 48 and was heading east before Mr. Pino attempted the ill-fated turn.

Fire crews from Cutchogue, Mattituck, East Marion, Greenport, Southold and Jamesport all responded to the scene. Two Suffolk County police helicopters assisted in the rescue, landing directly on Route 48, which remained closed in both directions for several hours. The road was open again by 11:40 p.m.

A Suffolk County police helicopter transports a victim from Saturday’s crash. (Credit: Tim Gannon)

The crash scene was devastating to those with the misfortune to drive past it Saturday.

“As we came around, all we saw were bodies out the left side of the vehicle, hanging out,” said Lynne Lulfs, a Hampton Bays woman who witnessed the accident. “It was surreal; it did not look real.”

Witnessing the tragedy hit home for Ms. Lulfs, who said her father died in a car accident when she was young.

“This will resonate with us forever,” she said.

Fire crews on scene of Saturday’s accident. (Credit: Tim Gannon)

People who live near the intersection said it’s a frequent spot for crashes. Ruth Urwand, who lives on Depot Lane, said she believes a regular stoplight should replace the blinking light that’s currently there.

Assistant Suffolk County District Attorney Elizabeth Miller said additional charges are expected in the case, as Mr. Romeo is currently facing just one misdemeanor drunk driving charge.

“At this time we are continuing the investigation and looking at upgrading the charges significantly,” she said, adding that Mr. Romeo is due in Southold Town Justice Court Friday.

When asked about the emotional state of his client, defense attorney Dan O’Brien of Nesconset said “It’s a tough, tough situation.” He declined to say where Mr. Romeo was headed at the time of the crash.

Ms. Miller said one of the women was “a bride” and that the friends were celebrating “an upcoming event.”

“I don’t believe it was a bridal party, but they were celebrating,” she said in reference to reports that the women were visiting the North Fork for a bachelorette party.

News of the fatal crash led friends and family of the victims to post memories of them on social media.

An anguished man who answered the phone at Ms. Baruch’s house Sunday afternoon declined to comment, saying only that he couldn’t talk.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

‘Soaring through the jungle in Mexico!’ reads the caption on this photo on Amy Grabina’s Facebook profile. (Credit: Facebook)

One Commack woman, who asked to be identified only as the mother of one of Ms. Grabina’s friends, said “She was such a vibrant girl.”

“She tried everything,” the woman said. “She was young — a young girl. I can’t even imagine what her parents are going through right now.”

According to her Facebook profile, Ms. Grabina graduated from Florida State University in 2014 and had been hired less than a month ago as a staff accountant at New York City firm Ernst & Young.

Steve Romeo in a Romeo Dimon Marine profile published in The Suffolk Times in 2010. (Credit: Courtesy)

Mr. Romeo pleaded not guilty at his bedside arraignment at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport, where he is being treated for non-life threatening injuries. Southold Town Justice Rudolph Breuer set bail at $500,000 cash or $1 million bond.

The Southold businessman was previously involved in a fatal accident in January 2014 at a construction site in Mattituck, where a 30-year-old worker was struck in the head and killed by a bucket that fell off of a skid-steer loader being operated by Mr. Romeo. He was not charged in that incident, but the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations and fined the business, in part because Mr. Romeo had not been trained to use the equipment he was operating.

Southold Town police Chief Martin Flatley leads detectives into Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport for the arraignment of Steve Romeo Sunday afternoon. (Credit: Vera Chinese)

A wrongful death suit filed by the worker’s family against Romeo Dimon Marine and the owner of the construction site is pending in New York State Supreme Court, online court records show.

A representative from Romeo Dimon Marine’s Southold office declined to comment on the fatal crash Sunday morning.

“It’s a private matter,” he told a Suffolk Times reporter, declining to identify himself. “It has nothing to do with business. I have no comment. Nothing to say to you.”

gparpan@timesreview.com

Top photo: The intersection of Depot Lane and Route 48 in Cutchogue where four women where killed when an alleged drunk driver plowed into the limo they were riding in on Saturday afternoon. (Credit: Vera Chinese)

The Village of Greenport Sunday afternoon, where an outage left residents and business owners without power for about three hours. (Credit: Tina Volinski)

A short in a PSEG line in Southold that supplies power to Greenport is being blamed for an outage Sunday afternoon that lasted about three hours. 

Greenport Mayor George Hubbard said at 4:30 p.m. that PSEG was working to hook the village up to a backup line, and power was back up and running about 5 p.m.

“We’re waiting to find out what went wrong, but a solution is in the works,” Mr. Hubbard had said. “We’re close to being back up and running.”

The outage, which began at 1:50 p.m. forced some village businesses to close early and others to remain open without power.

Rena Wilhelm, co-owner of the Weathered Barn on Front Street, said she was one of several local business owners who migrated over to a closed Lucharito’s in Greenport to hang with her fellow merchants while waiting for the air conditioning to pop back on.

“We’re absolutely making the most out of it,” she said. “It’s no one’s fault. We never get to enjoy Greenport because we’re always working.

“We’re sweating, but we don’t care.”

She noted that restaurants legally have to close without power.

“I’m sure there are many restaurants that are hurting,” she said.

Mr. Hubbard said it was premature to say if the outage, which has also affected several homes in East Marion, is related to the warm weather. There were more than 1,300 additional PSEG customers without power across Long Island as of 4:30 p.m.

gparpan@timesreview.com

Judythe Ann Ghosio, (née Monette), of Greenport, died July 18 after a 12-year battle with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. She was 71 and will surely be missed.

Born June 28, 1944, in Jamaica, Queens, to George and Gertrude Monette, she grew up in Levittown and Northport where, at the age of 14, she met her future husband, Robert Ghosio. After graduating from Northport High School, they married and have been married 51 years. Having lived in the Lake Ronkonkoma area most of their lives, they moved to Greenport in 2003 to be near family.

Judy was a feisty and very intelligent person who worked as Full Charge Bookkeeper and was a very active member of Lake Ronkonkoma United Methodist Church. It was there that she co-founded the nursery school some 40 years ago and acted as the treasurer. She was a devoted volunteer who was also an avid bowler, superb cook, and loved to garden, crochet, and read. She would relax by playing her piano.

Judy was proud of having raised five successful children who give to the church and community. She is survived by her husband, her sons, Robert Jr. (Gail) of Greenport, Christopher (Theresa) of Wading River, Matthew (Kathy) of Shirley, Jonathon (Holly) of Ronkonkoma, her daughter Serena of Tampa, FL., seven grandchildren, Robert III, Zachary, Christa, Kelly, Meghan, David, Jonathon Jr., and her brother Doug Monette (Joanne) of Selden.

The family will receive visitors Tuesday, July 21 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Coster- Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue. A memorial service will be conducted at the 7 to 9 p.m. visiting time with private cremation on Wednesday.

Memorial donations can be made to San Simeon by the Sound Adult Daycare Facility at 61700 County Road 48, Greenport NY 11944.

This is a paid notice.

“We want to know when will it end?” asked Marie Beninati, the co-chair of the non-profit group Southold Voice at its annual meeting Saturday.

She was beginning a discussion on the subject of excessive aircraft noise in Southold Town. 

Residents say that despite a number of attempts, both locally and federally, to curb helicopter noise on the East End, it’s still a problem.

“The North Fork does not have an airport and does not generate air traffic, yet airplanes and helicopters are increasingly plaguing the peace and quiet of our skies as we become the corridor for traffic from the Hamptons and, I’m sure, elsewhere,” said Ms. Beninati, who described Southold Voice as “a nonprofit organization that promotes awareness of issues that affect shoreline and marine resources, and that proactively advocates a balance between regulatory issues and property rights for the benefit of the community.”

Ms. Beninati said she counted 17 aircraft flying over the Cedar Beach section of Southold on Monday morning.

Connie Carlin of Aquebogue said she’s having her house redone on the outside to install soundproofing.

“Just because of these damn helicopters,” she said.

Fighting back tears, Ms. Carlin said the stress from the noise has affected her health, and she was in the intensive care unit at Peconic Bay Medical Center earlier this year as a result.

“Why are we being burdened on the North Fork will all this (aircraft) traffic?” she asked, saying this is the worst year for helicopter traffic since 2010.

She said she counted 40 aircraft in one day recently.

Kevin Dowley from Congressman Zeldin’s office, center, discussed helicopter noise Saturday with Southold Voice. Photo by Tim Gannon

Kevin Dowley, a legislative assistant to Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-Mastic) on transportation issues told the group Saturday that aircraft noise complaints are occurring in communities all over the country, and that his boss intends to do something about it.

Mr. Dowley said officials hope to make reforms to the Federal Aviation Administration as a result of what some feel is its unresponsiveness to the complaints of residents about aircraft noise.

“When you have an intransigent federal agency that isn’t responding to the people and is not responding to the representatives who represent the people, we have, as Congress, the power of the purse,” Mr. Dowley said. “We control the purse strings, and in the appropriation bills this summer, we have the opportunity to tighten up the purse strings to make these agencies pay attention. The FAA has not been responsive, as you know.”

Recently, the Congressman was successful in getting the House of Representatives to approve a bill he sponsored which prohibited the FAA from spending money to take punitive action against East Hampton Town, which enacted curfews on aircraft using its airport, against FAA wishes.

Mr. Downey said this legislation was “unprecedented” and had bipartisan support, although it still needs support in the U.S. Senate.

“The idea that if you do something to protect your own quality of life, that the government is going to sue you, with your own taxpayer money, is really unbelievable,” Mr. Dowley said.

Officials say the bulk of the helicopters flying over North Fork homes are heading to the East Hampton airport. A 2012 FAA rule, which was extended in 2014,  required helicopters to fly over the water on Long Island Sound, one mile off shore, and to go around Orient Point, rather than fly over houses, en route to the South Fork.

But the rule allows pilots to deviate from the route when required for reasons of safety, weather conditions, or transitioning to or from a destination or point of landing.

Local officials have said this only made the situation worse in Southold Town, since it allowed helicopters to cut across the town on their way to East Hampton.

Another change Mr. Zeldin would like to make would be to require all helicopters on both the North and South forks to fly over the water instead of over land and homes, according to Mr. Dowley.

“Having all-water approaches needs to be the gold standard for helicopters bound for East Hampton and other areas,” Mr. Dowley said. “We would like to see the North Fork taken off the table completely.”

In order for helicopters to fly over the Ocean on the South Shore, the FAA would have to clear air travel lanes for them first, because there is so much air traffic coming out of JFK airport in Queens, Mr. Dowley said.

If this could be done, “that would take the North Fork completely off the table,” Mr. Dowley said.

A Federal judge recently upheld East Hampton’s 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew and an even more restrictive curfew for “noisy aircraft,” after a pilot’s organization called Friends of East Hampton Airport filed suit against it.

Teresa McCaskie, chair of the Southold Town helicopter committee, which was formed to address helicopter noise complaints, said that when someone calls the FAA with a noise complaint, the recording says to file a complaint with flyneighnorly.net, which she says it the Eastern Region Helicopter Council.

“You’re having the fox watching the hen house,” she said, calling for an independent group to handle that responsibility.

She said there’s very little enforcement of existing rules.

“I’m at the point where in a few years you’re going to see a big fat ‘for sale’ sign in front of my house,” Ms. McCaskie said.

tgannon@timesreview.com

Top caption: A full house turned out for Southold Voice’s annual meeting Saturday, where the subject of helicopter noise was discussed. (Credit: Tim Gannon)

A Greenport man was arrested after he reportedly displayed a fake gun Saturday night while he was in possession of drugs at a Greenport home. 

According to police, 33-year-old Roberto E. Banchez-Reyes was a home on Ludlam Place around 10 p.m. Saturday when he showed a gun. After police said they found drugs on him, authorities later said the gun was found to be a fake one.

At an arraignment Sunday, Judge Rudolph Breuer said Mr. Banchez-Reyes was in possession of cocaine and marijuana. Speaking through a translator Mr. Banchez-Reyes said he did not wish to be represented by a lawyer, despite the judge’s firm warning that he faces up to a year in jail.

Mr. Banchez-Reyes was arrested on a charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.

No charges in relation to the gun were reported.

One of the four women injured in Saturday’s fatal limousine crash in Cutchogue is in “serious” condition two days after the crash, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Scarsdale resident Melissa Crai, 23, remains hospitalized at Stony Brook University hospital as of Monday morning, said media relations manager Greg Filiano.

Two other victims —Alicia Arundel of Setauket and Olga Lipets of Brooklyn, both 24 years old — remain at Stony Brook Hospital, Mr. Filiano said. Ms. Arundel is in “good condition” while Ms. Lipets is listed as “fair,” he said.

A fourth victim, Joelle Dimonte, 25, of Elwood, underwent surgery at Peconic Bay Medical Center and is listed in “stable and good condition” as of Monday morning, said hospital spokesperson Mary Thomas.

The four women were injured in Saturday’s deadly crash on Route 48, when the limousine they were riding in was allegedly t-boned by a pickup truck while attempting a U-turn along County Road 48 shortly after 5 p.m., police said.

The crash claimed the lives of four women: Brittney Schulman, 23, of Smithtown; Lauren Baruch, 24, of Smithtown; Stephanie Belli, 23, of Kings Park; and Amy Grabina, 23, of Commack.

Southold Town police said the driver of the truck, 55-year-old Southold businessman Steve Romeo, was driving drunk at the time of the crash. Mr. Romeo was arraigned on a driving while intoxicated charge while being treated at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport, authorities said.

A Suffolk County prosecutor said she expected charges to be “upgraded significantly.” Police officials will host a press conference in Southold early Monday afternoon.

But hospital officials there would not confirm he was still at the hospital or provide an update on his condition.

The driver of the limousine, 58-year-old Carlos Pino of Bethpage, was also injured. An update on his condition wasn’t immediately available and a spokesperson for the limousine company he worked for declined to comment on his status.

psquire@timesreview.com

(L-R) Alicia Arundel, Melissa Crai, Joelle Dimonte, and Olga Lipets remain hospitalized from this weekend’s deadly limousine crash on Route 48 in Cutchogue. (Credits: Facebook)

Steven Romeo, the alleged drunk driver in Saturday’s fatal limousine crash, may also face a charge related to leaving the scene of the crash, law enforcement officials said. 

At a Monday afternoon press conference at the Peconic Community Center, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said Mr. Romeo, 55, of Peconic stayed for about 15 minutes after the crash, which claimed the lives of four young women and injured four more. Police were later notified that he had walked away from the scene. He allegedly climbed a six-foot fence and was found making his was down an embankment on the Cutchogue Waste Transfer Station property, Mr. Spota said.

A police officer followed after him and brought him back to the scene, Mr. Spota said.

The district attorney said a lot of variables will determine if prosecutors will charge Mr. Romeo with leaving the scene.

“Essentially the law is not just walking away, you have to give certain information to the police department,” he said. “That’s something we are investigating, whether he was going to return or not.

“It’s not as clear as one might think.”

Mr. Romeo’s attorney, Dan O’Brien of Nesconset, had denied that his client left the scene when asked about that allegation Sunday.

Mr. Romeo is currently facing a misdemeanor driving while intoxicated charge, but prosecutors have said they expect the charges to be “upgraded significantly.”

Cash bail was set at $500,000 for Mr. Romeo at a bedside arraignment at Eastern Long Island Hospital Sunday. Court officials said he has not posted bail and the hospital declined to release his condition.

Mr. Spota said that Mr. Romeo suffered a broken nose in the crash.

The district attorney said the eight women had been picked up by the limousine from a house in Smithtown. They spent about an hour at the LiV distillery in Baiting Hollow before heading to Vineyard 48 in Cutchogue.

LiV owner Rich Stabile said the women seemed to be enjoying their time on the North Fork before the crash.

“They were a beautiful group of girls having a great time,” he said. “They seemed to be having a great start to their day. It’s such a sad story.”

Law enforcement officials said the limo driver was attempting to make a u-turn at the intersection of Route 48 and Depot Lane, when they were struck by Mr. Romeo’s truck. Mr. Spota said Mr. Romeo had worked that morning and admitted to drinking beer at his house in the hours before the crash. He did not say where Mr. Romeo was headed.

Mr. Spota said the group of friends had done the appropriate thing by hiring a driver for the day, but still suffered a tragedy.

“They wanted to act responsibly and they did the responsible thing by not choosing to drive drunk,” he said.

Police chief Martin Flatley said police have issued summonses to limo drivers in the past for “failing to yield the right of way” at that intersection, but that the driver in Saturday’s crash followed the law. A chemical test revealed the driver, Carlos Pino, 58, of Bethpage, had not consumed alcohol before the crash.

Mr. Spota said investigators are still interviewing witnesses and trying to ascertain certain details, including how fast Mr. Romeo’s truck was traveling at the time of the crash.

Mr. Flatley added that DWI arrests “are probably up slightly” in Southold Town this summer.

gparpan@timesreview.com

Captions: Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota (above) at Monday’s press conference in Peconic. Steven Romeo (below) in a 2010 business profile photo from The Suffolk Times.

Saturday’s racing was double the fun for Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead. In front of a near capacity crowd at Riverhead Raceway, Rogers won both the 35-lap modified and 15-lap figure eight feature events, bringing his career total for modified victories to 35.

It was his 22nd career figure eight win.

In the modified race, Rogers had to get past the early leader, Kyle Soper, who had started the race in the third position. After a restart, Rogers tried to pass on the outside for several laps, with Soper unwilling to give up any ground. Rogers altered his strategy, backing off and executing a crossover move to propel himself into the lead.

Once Rogers took the lead, he never looked back.

The win propelled Rogers into the modified standings point lead with 218, just ahead of John Fortin’s 213.

“Kyle ran a good race,” Rogers said after the race. “When I was outside of him he’d run my up a bit, which is OK but my car got too tight out there.”

Soper, of Manorville, and Vinny Biondolillo of Farmingivlle finished second and third, respectively. Howie Brode of East Islip and John Fortin of Holtsville rounded out the top five.

Rogers raced to a comfortable win in the figure eight race as an intense battle for second place unfolded behind him. A trio of drivers battled for second in close quarters. Ken Hyde Jr. of Mastic Beach settled for the second-place finish and Roger Maynor of Bay Shore took third.

In the charger event, Cory Midgett of East Hampton won for the second straight week. It was his third career victory. David Roys of Coram was the runner-up and Ray Minieri of Bay Shore was third.

Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches won the 20-lap legend race car main event. George Tomko Jr. of Aquebogue was the runner-up and points leader Dylan Slepian of Dix Hills was third.

Joe Warren Jr. of Ridge dominated in the 4/6-cylinder car enduro, topping the 75-lap race for his second win in a row. George Davis of Patchogue got out to the early lead until Warren charged into first on the 21st lap. Warren held the lead for a convincing win. Brandon Esposito of Farmingville was second and George Davis was third.

The school bus demolition derby turned into a family affair as brothers Michael Rommeney of Bohemia and Kevin Rommeney were the last two standing. Michael outlasted his younger brother for the win.

What started out as a nice day for a dive in the Peconic Bay quickly turned into a multi-agency rescue of a group of people on Saturday morning.

Bay Constables from Southold and Southampton Towns, a Sea Town captain, and nearby boaters rescued a group of divers near Robins Island Saturday morning after rough seas pulled them deeper into Peconic Bay, authorities said.

About 10:10 a.m., Southampton Bay Constable Mark Ruocco was called to buoy 22 just south of the island for a report of “swimmers in distress,” according to a Southampton Town police news release.

Sea Tow captain Garrett Moore was near Mattituck at the time and he and a Southold Bay Constable also responded to the scene. There, they found two 22-year-old men hanging onto the buoy in the rough seas. The men had been part of a larger freediving group that kayaked out to the island and went swimming in the bay before the weather shifted.

“It was wind against tide,” he said. “It was stacked up three to four foot [waves] … it went ‘okay’ to ‘bad’ to ‘worse’ very quickly.”

One of the two was wearing a life jacket, Mr. Moore said. The captain used a tow line to pull one of the young men to safety and the other was soon plucked from the water, he said.

Yet three swimmers — who were last seen wearing black wetsuits — were still missing, Mr. Moore said. Southampton and Southold Bay Constables, the U.S. Coast Guard and a Suffolk County police helicopter all searched the bay for the missing swimmers, according to Southampton Police.

But since the swimmers had been missing for at least 30 minutes, Mr. Moore said, the search area could have stretched to Shinnecock Canal.

“Things were not looking good,” he said. “Trying to do any kind of search and rescue in three to four foot waves [is difficult].”

Fortunately, Mark and Lisa Bischoff of Smithtown were sailing to Shelter Island in their pleasure boat “Lisa Ann” when they spotted the three swimmers — age 22, 21, and 19 — in the bay and rescued them.

“They were in the right place at the right time,” Mr. Moore said.

The five swimmers were brought back to land, police said. The only injuries reported were cuts to one of the swimmer’s legs.

Mr. Moore — who had jumped on an out-of-control boat during a rescue near Greenport last year — said the young mens’ fitness likely saved their lives.

“If these guys weren’t in the peak of their lives, we would have been looking for bodies,” he said.

psquire@timesreview.com

John P. “Jack” Dewar of Southold died at his home July 18, 2015. He was 68. 

He was born in Queens, June 21, 1947, to John and Julia (née Cashen) Dewar. Raised in Massapequa, he was a graduate of Massapequa High School where he excelled in sports.

On April 1, 1982, he married Carolyn M. (née Zukas) in Southold. Jack had worked for many years at Plum Island Animal Disease Center and later at Calverton National Cemetery. During the evenings, he worked at King Kullen in Cutchogue.

Jack enjoyed fishing and Sudoku puzzles.

Predeceased by his wife Carolyn M. Dewar on January 29, 2014, he is survived by his step-children: Michael (Lynn) Eckhardt of Southold, Michelle Eckhardt of Southold and Melissa (Tim) McGowan of Mattituck; siblings: Jean Kane of Virginia, Carole Powell of Florida and Jim Dewar of Upstate, New York; six grandchildren, Shannon Chute, Jeremy Eckhardt, Kaela and Collin McGowan and Nicholas and Justin Eckhardt and a great-granddaughter, Ariana Chute.

The family will receive visitors Tuesday, July 21, from 4 to 7 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 22, at St. Patrick R.C. Church in Southold. Interment, with U.S. Air Force honors will take place at Calverton National Cemetery.

Memorial donations to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, P.O. Box 78960, Phoenix, Arizona 85062-8960, would be appreciated.

This is a paid notice.

Will Hayes is itching to get the season started.

The former assistant coach for the Mattituck High School soccer team, Hayes was hired in May to replace Mat Litchhult after his resignation following the Tuckers’ state championship.

“I really want to get into practicing five days a week,” Hayes said Monday, speaking like a true coach by referencing practices, not games.

They’ll be plenty of new faces this year after the Tuckers graduated nearly the entire team from last year. To help that transition, the Tuckers have been playing in the Town of Brookhaven Summer League, giving Hayes a chance to see his new players in action and for those kids to learn what’s expected of playing on varsity.

The new-look Tuckers have held their own, posting a 3-3-3 record with one game left in the regular season. The Tuckers battled Bayport-Blue Point to a 0-0 draw on Monday night in Medford.

“You can’t really judge a lot based on what you see here,” Hayes said. “But the important thing is the kids are getting the experience and the time and acclimating themselves.”

Hayes said he’s been impressed by what he’s seen so far from some of the younger kids.

James Jacobs, an incoming freshman, and Kyle Makely, a junior, have both seen time at goalkeeper. Jacobs played in goal Monday against the Phantoms.

“[Jacobs] made a couple really good saves, kept us level at critical points in the game and has really grown as a goalkeeper over the course of the last two weeks,” Hayes said.

Makely was the backup goalkeeper on varsity last season and will be vying for a bigger role this year.

Bryce Grathwohl, an incoming freshman, has played center back alongside Daniel Fedun and the two are developing some chemistry, Hayes said. Fedun was a reserve on the varsity team a year ago. John Batuello, one of the few returning players from last season has brought some veteran experience to the team.

When Hayes became varsity coach, his first order of business was to announce Batuello as team captain.

“It was probably the easiest decision I’ve ever made,” he said.

In Monday’s game, both teams had some chances. In the first half the Phantoms hit two crossbars within a minute of each other. The Tuckers had a great chance in the second half when Pawel Klibisz got a breakaway, only to see his shot stopped by Bayport’s goalkeeper.

“A nil-nil draw was tough,” Hayes said, noting that the team was missing a few of its top scorers from the summer league so far.

The Tuckers return to the field Wednesday against arch rival Center Moriches to close out the summer league regular season. No matter what time of year it is, a game against the Red Devils promises to bring out the best in the Tuckers.

Hayes said the Red Devils are going through a similar facelift like the Tuckers with big roster turnover. Wednesday’s game will be an early test to see which program is ready to seize Class B this year.

“Center Moriches is a war, every single time,” Hayes said. “A lot of these kids have never experienced a true Class B derby between Center Moriches and Mattituck. It’ll be eye opening for some of them.”

joew@timesreview.com

Former longtime Riverhead resident Andrew J. Kirsch of East Marion died July 13. He was 98.

He was born Jan. 8, 1917, in Carrolltown, Pa., to Elizabeth (Pack) and Isadore Kirsch. He married Albina April 8, 1950.

Mr. Kirsch served for four years in the U.S. Army, achieving the rank of lieutenant. He received a Bronze Star for his service.

He earned a Masters of Education at Penn State University and taught for 40 years at Riverhead High School.

Mr. Kirsch was a member and Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary Club of Greenport and volunteered for Literary Volunteers of America and The Salvation Army.

Family members said he enjoyed gardening, boating, skiing, scuba diving, church activities, reading, and loved spending time with his family.

He was predeceased by his wife in 2008; six brothers, Clete, Shawn, Hik, Alvin, Urban and Norbert; and one sister, Marcella.
Mr. Kirsch is survived by his daughters, Paula Albin, Karen (Leo) Lucas, Deborah (Peter) Kolbornsen; six grandchildren, Eric (Jayne), Lisa (Mark), Kerri, Brenden, Kate and Andrew; six great-grandchildren, Daniel (Marie), Brooke (Tony), Erica, Lydia, Jonathan and Felicity; three great-great-grandchildren, Landen, Kaylin and Kaleb; and many nieces and nephews in New York and Pennsylvania.

The family received visitors July 16 at Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport. A funeral Mass took place July 17 at St. Agnes R.C. Church in Greenport. Burial was at Calverton National Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Rotary Club of Greenport, P.O. Box 204, Greenport, NY 11944.

This is a paid notice. 

A traffic light will been installed at the intersection of Route 48 and Depot Lane in Cutchogue, the location of Saturday’s limousine crash that killed four women, Legislator Al Krupski said.

“A light isn’t going to prevent tragedies from happening,” he said. “Human error is always a factor.” But he added the light will “help slow things down.”

Mr. Krupski said plans for the light had already been approved prior to Saturday’s deadly collision between a limousine making a U-turn and a pickup truck.

Four Smithtown women were killed in the crash, with another four injured, one seriously. Both drivers were also injured, police said.

Prosecutors say the driver of the pickup truck, local businessman Steve Romeo, had been drinking before the crash and briefly walked away from the scene after smashing into the limousine. He has been charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, though prosecutors said they expect to upgrade the charges soon.

Police said the limo driver would not be held criminally liable for the crash.

Mr. Krupski told The Suffolk Times he had reached out to the county’s Department of Public Works in May after a constituent raised safety concerns about the intersection. But the county had already completed studies for the light and determined it was needed, he said.

“The data to put a light in was already there,” he said. “This isn’t the result of a tragedy. This was based more on routine analysis.”

Prior to May, the county had not received a complaint about the intersection since 2002, Mr. Krupski added. The traffic light will be installed after PSEG raises wires around the intersection, allowing the county to put larger utility poles in place. A contract is already in place for its construction, he said.

Mr. Krupski said the light should be finished by late fall.

gparpan@timesreview.com

Joy Lupoletti of Greenport, formerly of East Hampton, died July 14. She was 82.

She was born Jan. 6, 1933, in Brooklyn to Josephine (Miele) and Elio Betty. She married Richard Lupoletti Aug. 28, 1954, in Brooklyn.

Ms. Lupoletti received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Brooklyn College and a Master of Science in education from C.W. Post University. She taught for 25 years at John J. Daly Elementary School in Port Washington.

Ms. Lupoletti served as president of the League of Women Voters of the Hamptons for two years. She volunteered for East Hampton Trails Preservation, Group for the South Fork/East End and Literacy Volunteers of America.

Predeceased by her sister, Martha Puglia, and her brother, Elio Betty, Ms. Lupoletti is survived by her husband, Richard; her son, William, of Providence Forge, Va.; her daughter, Claudia Lupoletti of Burke, Va.; and one grandchild.

Cremation was private. A funeral Mass took place July 18 at St. Agnes R.C. Church in Greenport. A memorial celebration will be held at a time and date to be announced.

Arrangements were in the care of Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport.