Drivers Race Sports Cars 130+ MPH On North Fork Roads: Cops

CUTCHOGUE, NY — Two drivers who raced luxury sports cars more than 130 miles per hour on the North Fork ditched the cars and fled, police said.

According to Southold Town Police, the incident took place on Sunday at 1:38 p.m. on Route 48 in Cutchogue near Cabots Wood Rd. when a Southold Town police officer saw eight "exotic sports cars" heading west on County Rd. 48 in Peconic.

The vehicles, police said, were traveling at or about the posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour when the two lead vehicles, a blue 2017 McLaren and a red 2016 Ferrari F40, slowed to about 25 mph and drove side by side for a short distance, police said.

Both vehicles then simultaneously and rapidly accelerated to speeds in excess of 130 miles per hour as they passed Bridge Ln. in Cutchogue "in an obvious speed contest," police said.

The speeding vehicles slowed but continued driving in excess of 100 miles per hour when they saw the lights and heard the siren of the following police car, police said.

The McLaren and Ferrari drivers continued west on Route 48 in excess of 100 miles per hour and drove through the intersection at Depot Lane in Cutchogue against a steady red light at about 80 miles per hour on the westbound shoulder of the road to avoid the westbound traffic stopped for the red light, police said.

Due to the two sports car drivers' "reckless nature," all other officers were advised to observe, if possible, but not pursue, the speeding cars, police said.

Both cars were next seen driving through a steady red light at the intersection of Route 48 and Wickham Avenue again on the westbound shoulder, to avoid stopped westbound traffic, police said.

An officer posted at that intersection was able to stop north or southbound traffic and observe the drivers speed through the intersection in excess of 80 mph, police said.

A short time later and further west, police were flagged down by a motorist who saw the Ferrari and McLaren turn onto Hallock Lane in Laurel, police said.

Both vehicles were found abandoned in the driveway of a home at the Hallock Lane Extension in Laurel, police said. The house at that location was searched and found to be unoccupied.

Officers searched the surrounding area but the drivers could not be found.

Both vehicles were impounded pursuant to the Suffolk County Law regarding unlawful speed contests and races, police said.

Southold Town detectives are investigating; attempts to contact the registered owners were unsuccessful, police said.

Anyone who may have video of the cars or who can identify the drivers is asked to contact Southold Town Police Detective Sergeant Sinning at 631-765-2600.