Police Chase Ends in Bridgehampton Crash
An Oakdale man led East Hampton Village police on a chase Sunday night that ended when he allegedly crashed the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder he was driving through a fence and into a construction site at a busy Bridgehampton intersection.
Thomas R. Flanagan, 19, was arrested on multiple charges, including three counts of felony reckless endangerment, East Hampton Village Police Chief Gerard Larsen said Monday. He was also charged with driving while intoxicated, driving with ability impaired by drugs, and fleeing a police officer. East Hampton Town Justice Steven Tekulsky set bail at $5,000, the amount requested by the district attorney's office, on Monday morning.
Justice Tekulsky said that while Mr. Flanagan has never been convicted of a crime, his alleged actions throughout the chase "indicate to the court that the defendant puts his own interests above those of society."
According to Chief Larsen, police first began looking for Mr. Flanagan, who was wearing a light summer dress, both when he was arrested and when he was arraigned, after town police received a call at about 8:55 p.m. alerting them to a reckless driver headed west on the Napeague stretch. At 9:06 p.m., village police received a second call concerning the Nissan Mr. Flanagan was said to be driving, after it allegedly struck a utility pole where Pantigo Road becomes East Hampton's Main Street, by the Hook Mill. Mr. Flanagan was said to have driven off after the accident, continuing to head west.
He was then spotted by an officer on Montauk Highway near Cove Hollow Road in East Hampton. The officer put his lights on, and Mr. Flanagan pulled over, Chief Larsen said. But, when the officer got out of the patrol car, Mr. Flanagan allegedly sped off. Driving at about 45 miles per hour while pursued by village police, Mr. Flanagan weaved in and out of traffic, through Wainscott and Sagaponack, the chief said. Now joined by Southampton Town police, the Nissan was headed into Bridgehampton. While trying to pass cars at the traffic light by at the corner of Montauk Highway and the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike, Mr. Flanagan struck an occupied car, careened off to the right, hopping the curb, and crashing into a property that is under construction northwest corner of at the intersection.
After the crash Mr. Flanagan was taken to Southampton Hospital, where he was treated and released back into police custody. In court Monday, he appeared shaken. He had multiple bruises and cuts on his face and shoulders.
His attorney, Brian Francese of the Legal Aid Society, argued that Mr. Flanagan is on medication, and told the court that the felony charge, of reckless endangerment, was an "over charge." The charge is made when a defendant is said to threaten human life with his or her actions. Mr. Francese maintained that this did not fit the events.
According to Chief Larsen, however, Mr. Flanagan's actions did endanger life. If he had not struck the car that led to the final crash, the chief said, he could well have struck a pedestrian on Main Street in Bridgehampton.
Justice Tekulsky said that Mr. Flanagan had blood drawn at the hospital, and that the court would soon have the report indicating alcohol and drug levels in his body.
Mr. Flanagan sobbed as he was taken away. He was unable to post bail Monday morning and was returned to police headquarters.