Driver Falls Asleep At The Wheel, Hits Utility Pole, Trees: Cops

LAUREL, NY — An East Marion man fell asleep at the wheel in Laurel and crashed his car into a utility pole, police said.

According to Southold Town Police, Richard Squitieri, 53, was driving a 1998 GMC Yukon east at 4:44 a.m. on Route 25 in Laurel when he fell asleep, causing his vehicle to leave the roadway and strike a utility pole across from the Mattituck Car Wash.

After striking the pole, his vehicle continued across a grass lawn and came to rest in a wooded area after striking several trees, police said.

Mattituck Fire Department responded to the scene, extricated him from the vehicle and transported him to Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead for treatment of minor injuries, police said.

No charges were filed, police said.