Driver in Accident That Resulted in Death of Anna Pump Hospitalized For Emotional Distress

The Water Mill man involved in the accident that resulted in the death of renowned chef and author Anna Pump in Bridgehampton earlier this month, was hospitalized for emotional distress as a result of the incident.

On Oct. 5, Luis Ortega, 40, was driving a 1997 Dodge Dakota pickup truck westbound on Montauk Highway when he struck Pump, 81, of Sag Harbor, who was walking in a northerly direction in the crosswalk located by the Bridgehampton Post Office, according to police.

Pump, founder of Loaves & Fishes Cookshop in Bridgehampton and the author of several cookbooks, was transported to Southampton Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Ortega was arrested and charged with circumventing an interlock device, unlicensed operation, and failing to yield for a pedestrian in a crosswalk, police said.

He was previously arrested on a DWI charge in 2012 and he was charged with second degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and circumventing an interlock device after an accident in Southampton Village in 2013.

Ortega says he simply did not see her when the accident occurred, which took place after sunset, according to 27east.

The incident was treated as an accident since Ortega was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs during the accident or speeding.

He remained at the scene and was cooperative with police during the investigation, police told 27east.

He is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at Southampton Town Justice Court for the charges he was arrested for, police said.

27east reports that Ortega’s attorney, Anthony Rutowski of Astarita & Associate P.C., said that Ortega was had a psychiatric evaluation done Stony Brook University Hospital after the accident and was then taken to Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport for treatment of “suicide prevention and anxiety as a result of the event.”

“Luis is this little, very unassuming and quiet man who is very genuinely distraught about Ms. Pump. He’s not doing this for self-preservation, as it does not appear that there will be any other changes other than the traffic violations at this time,” Rutowski told 27east. “Mr. Ortega’s family and friends wish to express their deepest sympathies to Ms. Pump’s family.”