Two Hospitalized After Being Struck by Taxi in Montauk

Two men were injured, one critically, when they were struck by taxi in downtown Montauk early Sunday morning.

Benjamin Pileski, 20, of Mattituck, was taken to Southampton Hospital after the accident, which was reported at 3:09 a.m., and later transferred to Stony Brook University Hospital. He was listed in critical condition on Monday afternoon, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Another Mattituck man, Justin Tyler, 20, was also taken to Southampton Hospital, and then transferred to Stony Brook, police said. He was suffering from several injuries, though apparently not as severe as Mr. Pileski's, and was listed in fair condition on Monday afternoon. Word quickly spread through the North Fork community that the two friends had been injured, according to Southold LOCAL.

According to East Hampton Town police Captain Chris Anderson, the two men were crossing Montauk Highway from the south near Carl Fisher Plaza, when they were struck by the westbound taxi, which, Capt. Anderson said, did not have a passenger aboard at the time.

The taxi driver, Irfan Mohammad, 43, of Shirley was not injured and was not charged in the incident.

The 2001 Honda van Mr. Mohammad was driving is registered to JEB Tech of Bohemia, a company that leases vehicles to drivers on a weekly basis. The company rents an office in East Hampton Town, which allows it to operate cars for hire.