Crime & Safety

Taxi Driver's Mother Says Son Died From Assault Injuries

The Riverhead taxi driver died on Thursday from injuries related to an alleged 'road rage' incident in Hampton Bays

The mother of a driver says her son has died from injuries related to an alleged "road rage" incident that occurred on Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays on April 21.

According to, Robert Levasseur of Riverhead, 53, was allegedly struck in the head by Kenneth Tofty-Forrest, 27, of Hampton Bays. The police report stated that Levassau suffered "significant face and head injuries" and was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center by medevac and later transferred to Stony Brook.

Jeannette Levasseur says her son passed away on Thursday at Stony Brook University Hospital.

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“There was nothing they could do,” Levasseur said. “He died yesterday morning. He was only 53 years old.” Her voice breaking, she added, “It was the way he died.”

In death, Levasseur said, her son was a hero: “He donated his organs. Already, they saved two people.”

Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Her son, she said, was a veteran of the United States Air Force who went to church every Sunday and didn’t smoke or drink.

“He was a good guy,” she said.

A bachelor and a “loner,” Levasseur's mother said he lived with her for the past 15 years in their Riverhead home, where she will live alone now. Her husband and Levasseur’s father was admitted into a nursing home 7 months ago. Levasseur is survived by his parents, two brothers and a sister.

Police said Tofty-Forrest was charged with third-degree assault, a misdemeanor.

It is not immediately clear whether or not additional charges will be filed against Tofty-Forrest. Southampton Town Police did not immediately return calls.

Services for Levassau will be held at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead on Sunday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; a burial will follow on Monday at Calverton National Cemetery.


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