Update: Pedestrian Struck and Killed in East Hampton Village

Update, Nov. 10, 2 p.m.: East Hampton Village police have identified Harry Greenfield, 72, of Lighthouse, Fla., as the man killed in an accident Wednesday night. 

Jose Cifuentes-Monzon, 32, of East Hampton was driving a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee east on Montauk Highway when he "reportedly swerved to avoid hitting a deer and subsequently struck the victim," who was walking on the shoulder by Cafe Max restaurant, police said in a statement Thursday. 

No criminal charges have been filed against the driver. However, he was arrested on charges of operating a vehicle without a license and improper lane usage, both violations. 

Originally, Nov. 9, 8:37 p.m.: A man walking on the shoulder in front of Cafe Max on Montauk Highway in East Hampton Village was killed Wednesday evening after being struck by a vehicle.

At about 6:30 p.m., village police received a 911 call about an unresponsive man in front of the restaurant at 85 Montauk Highway. The victim, a 72-year-old with a Florida address whose name police did not release yet, had stopped with his wife, pulling his car into the parking lot behind the restaurant, according to Police Chief Gerard Larsen. He got out of the car, walked around to the front to look at the menu, and was walking back, along the eastbound shoulder on the south side of the highway, when a Jeep Cherokee struck him. 

The driver — a man in his 30s who lives nearby — claimed to have swerved to avoid a deer that ran from near Cafe Max to the fields across the street. The driver stopped and is being interviewed by police. His name was also not immediately released, as police are still in the throes of the investigation. However, Chief Larsen said he did not believe the driver had a license. 

Drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor in the accident, the chief said. Village police will likely levy a charge of unlicensed driving, but no further charges were immediately expected. The preliminary investigation has not revealed any prior convictions on the driver's record. 

The victim's wife was sitting in the car around the corner from the accident. "She didn't know he got hit," Chief Larsen said, until the emergency vehicles began responding. "It's a very sad situation — very unfortunate. There were hardly any cars on the road," the chief said. 

Montauk Highway is closed between Cove Hollow Road and Jericho Road. East Hampton Town police are assisting with accident reconstruction and the road will likely be closed for several hours, Chief Larsen said. 

Cafe Max is closing after 25 years in business on Thanksgiving weekend.