Man Charged With Felony DWI After Hamptons Crash: Police

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — A man is facing a felony charge after crashing into a telephone pole in Hampton Bays while intoxicated Sunday, police said.

According to Southampton Town police, the incident took place at about 6:42 p.m. on Old Riverhead Road East, in the vicinity of Washington Heights South.

Patrol units responded and determined that the driver, Efran G. Perez-Hilario, 24, of East Hampton, while traveling west on Old Riverhead Road East, veered off the roadway and struck a utility pole; the driver then left the crash site without reporting the incident to authorities, police said.

Subsequently, patrol officers located Perez-Hilario, who was intoxicated, a short distance away on foot, police said.

A witness identified the driver as the person responsible for the crash, police said.

Further investigation revealed that his driver’s license had been revoked, and he was required to have an ignition interlock device installed in any vehicle he operated; however, the vehicle involved in the accident was not equipped with such a device, police said.

No injuries were reported in the crash, police said.

Perez-Hilario was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, a felony, circumvention of an interlock device, a misdemeanor, and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor; he was also issued a summons for several traffic infractions, police said.

Perez-Hilario was transported to Southampton Town Police headquarters, where he was processed and held for morning arraignment, police said.