Driver Airlifted After Falling Asleep At Wheel, Crashing Into Pole: PD

MATTITUCK, NY — A driver who fell asleep at the wheel crashed into a tree in Mattituck Thursday morning, officials said.

According to Southold Town Police Chief Steve Grattan, a vehicle was traveling eastbound on County Route 48 and Lipco Road in Mattituck when the driver, a 53-year-old man, reportedly fell asleep and veered off the roadway, striking a telephone pole.

He was extricated from the vehicle by the Mattituck Fire Department and transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, Grattan said.

The driver was assessed and showed no signs of impairment, police said.

The telephone pole and wires caught on fire, causing a power outage in the area and a road closure. Power has since been restored and the roadway is open, he said.

Mattituck Fire Department Chief Bobby Haas told Patch that after the single car crash, the driver needed to be extricated via the "jaws of life" and was airlifted to SBUH via Suffolk County Police Department helicopter.

The top of the pole ended up catching fire in the crash; fire crews had to wait for PSEG to shut down the power to extinguish the pole fire, Haas said.

"While waiting for power to be shut off, falling debris started a small brush fire in a nearby bush with leaves," Haas said.

Crews were at the scene for roughly two hours; PSEG crews will be working over the next several hours replacing the pole, Haas said.