Crime & Safety
Police: Hampton Bays Woman Killed in Flanders Road Head-On Crash
Flanders Road remained closed for hours as the accident investigation continued.
A Hampton Bays woman was killed in a tragic accident on Flanders Road Thursday morning.
According to Southampton Town police detectives, authorities are investigating the crash, which took the life of Barbara Tocci, 47.
Police said the accident took place at 7:57 a.m. near the intersection of Spinney Road and Flanders Road between a PSEG Truck and a Ford Explorer.
Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Michael Pepe, 53, was driving a 2005 GMC utility truck southbound on Flanders Road when his vehicle crossed into the oncoming lane of traffic and hit Tocci's 2000 Ford Explorer, which was going north, head-on, police said.
Southampton Town police officers and detectives, Flanders Fire Department and Flanders Northampton Volunteer Ambulance responded to the scene.
Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Tocci was pronounced dead at the scene. She was extricated from her vehicle by the Flanders Fire Department and transported to the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The PSEG driver, Michael Pepe, 53, of Bayport, was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center by Flanders Northampton Volunteer Ambulance, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The New York State Police Forensic ID & Collision Reconstruction Unit responded to assist in the investigation of the accident scene.
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s vehicular crimes bureau also responded and the New York State Department of Transportation responded to repair damage to the roadway.
The Ford Explorer and GMC utility vehicle were impounded for a safety check and further investigation.
No criminal charges are expected to be filed.
The investigation is continuing. Detectives are asking anyone who may have witnessed the accident to contact Southampton Town Detectives at 631-702-2230.
Flanders Road was closed from Bellows Pond Road to Pleasure Drive in Flanders for hours due to the accident. The road was expected to reopen just after 2 p.m.
The accident was the second death Thursday morning in the area. In Laurel, a male jogger was killed during a two car accident.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
