Motorcyclist Dies After Suffolk Crash: Police

RIVERSIDE, NY — A motorcyclist died after a crash in Riverside Wednesday night, police said.

According to Southampton Town police, a 911 call came in at about 10:33 p.m. regarding debris in southbound lanes of County Road 51, south of Speonk-Riverhead Road and near the county

center.

Just prior to seeing the debris in the roadway, a motorcyclist had passed the 911 caller; the motorcyclist was traveling in the same direction at a high rate of speed, police said.

The witness located the motorcycle crashed into the woods, police said.

The motorcyclist, Rafael Andre Penalas, 28, of Bayport, was found unconscious with serious injuries by police, authorities said. He was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries, police said.

No criminality is suspected, police said.

Southampton Town Police detectives responded to the scene to conduct their investigation, as did New York State Troopers, the Flanders Fire Department, Flanders Northampton Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Suffolk County Sheriffs.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Southampton Town
Police Department's detective division at 631-702-2230; the Southampton Town Police TIPS
Hotline at 631-728-3454 or TIPS e-mail, crimetips@southamptontownny.gov.