Montauk Resident Killed in Wednesday Crash

By Star staff |
Suzanne Lavenas Montauk accident
A driver was killed and and her passenger left in serious condition after apparently turning into the path of an oncoming pickup truck Wednesday night. T.E. McMorrow

East Hampton Town police have released the name of a woman who was killed in a two-car crash Wednesday evening on Montauk Highway in Montauk.

In a statement to the press on Thursday, Detective Lt. Chris Anderson said that Suzanne Lavenas, 69, was behind the wheel of a 2007 Toyota sedan, when she made a left turn onto South Fox Street, near the Montauk Library, into the path of a 2012 Ford pickup being driven west by Thomas Gubitosi, 48, of Farmingdale. She was taken to Southampton Hospital by Montauk ambulance, where she was pronounced dead.

A passenger in Ms. Lavenas's Toyota, Frances Berg, 88, of South Fairbanks Road, Montauk, is listed in serious condition at Southampton Hospital, police said.

Mr. Gubitosi was taken to Southampton Hospital by an Amagansett Fire Department ambulance. Police said that he was treated and released.

Both vehicles were impounded by police for safety checks.

Police have asked that any witnesses to the accident phone their headquarters at 631-537-7575.
 


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by Anonymous | July 5, 2012 - 9:34pm
The accident still doesn't make any sense. If she was making a left, she was also traveling west. So the only way she could've been killed by the pickup was if he was going around her just as she started to turn. So, either it was an illegal pass in a 40mph zone by the pickup, or perhaps she neglected to use a turn signal and the other driver thought she was slowing down to pull over into the shoulder (?). Puzzling.
by Leadfoot61563 | July 7, 2012 - 7:20am
I agree with you to, something doesn't sound right. I know the area where Suzie was hit and I was very nervous about turning down that road. I though in that area it was a fourty five mile an hour zone. Now for him to hit her and kill her, he had to be going over fourty five miles and an hour. They really need to look into this accident and do a really good investigation. To me it is too soon to be pointing fingers at who caused it.I know Suzie she was a very good driver.. So sad for her to go like this.. RIP Suzie.. <3
by Anonymous | July 6, 2012 - 9:04pm
She was making a left on to South fox street going east on Montauk hwy while the truck was heading west.
by Anonymous | July 12, 2012 - 2:21pm
No matter where she was going, she died and her family is probably devastated. My prayers are with the family. so sad.