Updated: Police Identify Man Killed in Springs Crash

The story as it appeared in print on Aug. 3: A single-car accident in Springs Saturday afternoon claimed the life of a 54-year-old man and left his passenger with serious injuries.

East Hampton Town police said Edward H. Reich of Nyack, N.Y., was behind the wheel of his 1987 Porsche, headed north, when he veered off Three Mile Harbor-Hog Creek Road between Woodbine Drive and Gardiner’s Lane and struck a pole at about 3:20.

His sole passenger, Robert Kostro, 54, of East Hampton, was seriously injured. The Springs Fire Department’s heavy rescue squad extricated both men from the mangled Porsche.

Members of the East Hampton Village Ambulance Association treated Mr. Kostro and transported him to the East Hampton Airport, to meet a medevac helicopter, which took him to Stony Brook University Hospital, a level-one trauma center. As of yesterday, he was listed in fair condition.

Mr. Reich was taken by Springs ambulance to Southampton Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Detectives, along with the Suffolk County medical examiner’s office, are continuing to investigate what led to the crash. Capt. Chris Anderson said on Tuesday that it is not clear what caused the Porsche to leave the roadway. Asked if speed was a factor, the captain said there were no obvious signs, such as skid marks. “The physical characteristics that we would need to determine speed aren’t present,” he said.

However, he said, “We believe the operator contributed to the collision.” There were no obvious signs that drugs or alcohol played a part in the crash.

The Porsche was impounded for a safety check. The road was closed between Woodbine Drive and Harbor Boulevard for several hours while police conducted an accident reconstruction.

The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call East Hampton Town police at 631-537-7575.

Update, July 30, 9:55 a.m.: On Sunday morning, East Hampton Town police released the names of the people involved in Saturday afternoon's fatal crash in Springs.

Edward H. Reich, 54, of Nyack was identified as the driver who was killed when his  1987 Porsche hit a utility pole on Three Mile Harbor-Hog Creek Road at about 3:20 p.m. His sole passenger, Robert Kostro, 54, of East Hampton, was seriously injured. Police said on Sunday morning that he is listed in serious, but stable condition at Stony Brook University Hospital. 

According to police, Mr. Reich's Porsche veered off the road and struck the pole near Gardiner's Lane. Both men had to be extricated from the vehicle. Mr. Kostro was airlifted to Stony Brook, while Mr. Reich was taken to Southampton Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

Detectives, along with the Suffolk County medical examiner's office, are investigating what led to the crash. The Porsche was impounded for a safety check. The road was closed between Woodbine Drive and Harbor Boulevard for several hours while police conducted an accident reconstruction. 

The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call East Hampton Town police at 631-537-7575.

Update, July 29, 6:38 p.m.: One of the occupants of a Porsche that crashed into a pole in Springs on Saturday afternoon has died. East Hampton Town Police Chief Michael Sarlo said the person, whom he did not identify, was pronounced dead at Southampton Hospital.

Detectives are investigating what caused the one-car crash on Three Mile Harbor-Hog Creek Road, near Woodbine Drive. A portion of the road between Woodbine Drive and Harbor Boulevard will be closed for another couple of hours, according to Sgt. Peter Schmitt, while detectives take measurements for accident reconstruction. PSEG-Long Island will respond to repair the pole, which is leaning across the road. 

Sergeant Schmitt said the Porsche crashed while heading north on Three Mile Harbor-Hog Creek Road at about 3:20 p.m. After an extended extrication process, the passenger was flown by helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital with serious injuries, Chief Sarlo said. The driver was taken to Southampton Hospital.

Springs Fire Chief Peter Grimes said the department's heavy rescue squad extricated both occupants from the Porsche. An East Hampton Village Ambulance transported the passenger to East Hampton Airport to meet the medevac helicopter, while a Springs ambulance transported the driver to Southampton Hospital.  About 30 members responded.

The Springs ambulance also responded to an emergency medical call just before this accident occurred.

This article will be updated when more information is available. 

Originally, July 29, 3:46 p.m.: A utility pole came down across Three Mile Harbor-Hog Creek Road near Gardiner's Lane in Springs Saturday afternoon following a serious car crash that left occupants trapped.

The accident occurred in front of 276 Three Mile Harbor-Hog Creek Road at about 3:20 p.m. There were reportedly two people trapped inside the vehicle with serious injuries. It was not immediately clear what caused the crash. East Hampton Town police are investigating. 

Two medevac helicopters were called to transport two of the occupants to Stony Brook University Hospital, a level-one trauma center. The helicopters were going to land at East Hampton Airport. 

Emergency responders were advised to be cautious because of downed power wires in the roadway. Regular traffic was being rerouted at Woodbine Drive and Harbor Boulevard. 

The East Hampton Village Ambulance Association was responding to assist the Springs Fire Department because one of the Springs ambulances was responding to an earlier emergency call.