Family of Sag Harbor Man Killed in Alleged DWI Crash Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit

The family of Paul Hansen, a Sag Harbor man who was killed in an alleged DWI accident in August, recently filed a wrongful death claim in State Supreme Court against the driver of the accident.

On August 30, the driver, Sean Ludwick, 42, crashed his car into a utility pole in Sag Harbor killing the passenger, 53-year-old real estate agent Hansen, who was found on the side of the road on Rolling Hill Court East.

The family claims that Ludwick left Hansen dead on the side of the road, leaving Hansen to endure “conscious pain and suffering” after the crash, according to a report in 27east.

Scott Middleton of Campolo, Middleton and McCormick LLP, filed the lawsuit on behalf of Catherine Hansen, his widow, and his two sons, a 14-year-old and an 11-year-old.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damaged and was filed on Oct. 23, according to a report in Sag Harbor Online.

The family is planning on asking the jury for an amount that would compensate the family for Hansen’s death if the case does end up going to trial, according to 27east.

The lawsuit claims that after the crash, Ludwick took Hansen out of the car and drove off after, according to the report in Sag Harbor Online.

It is still unknown exactly how Hansen got to the side of the road.

However, the lawsuit claims that by Ludwick allegedly leaving Hansen on the side of the road, he caused “severe and catastrophic injuries about [Hansen’s] head, neck and body which ultimately resulted in his death on August 30, 2015,” 27east reports.

Ludwick is due in court on November 24 for charges of leaving the scene of an accident and misdemeanor DWI.

He was arraigned in Southampton Town Justice Court on August 31 and was released after paying the $1 million bond.

Last month, Ludwick appeared with his attorney, Benjamin Brafman, before Justice Deborah Kooperstein who ”scolded” the duo for not appearing on Ludwick’s orignial court date.

During that court appearance, Brafman waived Ludwick’s constitutional right to a speedy trial stating that he believed the lab reports were not ready after speaking to John Scott Prudenti, head of the Suffolk County vehicular crime unit.