East Northport Man Drove 18-Wheeler In 5-Vehicle East End Crash: Cops

EASTPORT, NY — The driver of an 18-wheel tractor-trailer involved in a 5-vehicle crash on Sunrise Highway in Eastport has been identified as Noah M. Kuloglu, 54, of East Northport, New York State Police said.

According to New York State Police, Riverside barracks, who conducted an investigation, there were two crashes on Tuesday: The first crash took place in the eastbound lane of Sunrise Highway east of Exit 62, County Road 111, in Eastport and involved a single dump truck, which exited the highway into the wooded area on the right shoulder due to a tire blow out.

The right lane was closed for the accident, causing traffic to back up at that location, police said.
Next, at approximately 1 p.m., Kuloglu, driving his 18 wheeler tractor trailer, was approaching the stopped traffic due to the lane closure, but "failed to adequately reduce his speed," police said.

The tractor-trailer ended up striking several vehicles that were stopped in traffic, continued off the highway, and came to rest in the wooded area on the right shoulder, police said.

The operators of two of the involved vehicles were transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead with non-life threatening injuries, police said.

A total of five vehicles were involved in the crash; the driver of the dump truck from the first accident was also transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries, police said.

Eastport Fire Department responded to the crash, which took place at 1:05 p.m. between Exit 61 and Exit 63; five people were treated by Westhampton War Memorial Ambulance Association and East Moriches Ambulance, officials said.

Suffolk County sheriffs, Southampton Town Police and New York State Police were at the scene to complete the investigation into the cause of the accident, officials said.

Traffic was shut down eastbound through area until the scene was cleared.

Additional assistance was provided by Westhampton Beach Fire Department, who were assisting at the prior crash about a half mile east of the scene, officials said.

Photos courtesy Eastport Fire Department.

Story by Lisa Finn