Resident on Deadly North Fork Limo Crash: 'This Community Does Not Want It To Happen Again'

NORTH FORK, NY - Next month, mourners will mark one year since the devastating limo crash that left four young women dead on Route 48 in Cutchogue.

And one resident is crying out, imploring the Southold Town Board to take some action to prevent tragedy from happening again.

Cutchogue resident BIll Shipman came before the town board and asked if the board has been reporting alleged infractions by Vineyard 48 to the New York State Liquor Authority; he mentioned alleged incidents of alcohol poisoning.

Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley confirmed that he could think of at least "one" recent incident of alleged alcohol poisoning at Vineyard 48.

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said any infraction "absolutely" gets sent to the SLA, including a recent issue involving a cigar bar that was operating out of compliance. "We took immediate action and closed it down," Russell said. "It's closed now."

Shipman brought up a recent report by ABC news that involved a videotape indicating that limos are still making U-turns at the intersection of Depot Lane and Route 48 where the young women were killed.

He said the issue of U-turns is still critical.

"I don't think we have ever disagreed," Russell said. "You are misrepresenting our view."

The road, he said, is a county road, and any work would need both the input of both Suffolk County Department of Public Works and Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski.

Shipman said police enforcement at the intersection is critical.

Flatley, Russell said, covers not only Route 48, but the entire town, which has "many dangerous intersections, and we're trying to patrol all of them."

Shipman said he's come before the board for years. "I told you this was happening," he said.

As for the cigar shop, Shipman said he "had to get his own evidence" and bring the issue to the media to see action taken.

"Actually, the cigar bar was closed for awhile," Russell said. "They violated the spirit of the ongoing discussion of settlement." Russell said Shipman's wife Beth posted a photo of the cigar purchased at the shop on Facebook and then, "We took immediate action to close it down again."

Shipman said he's been asking for enhanced efforts on Route 48 for five years to see the situation addressed.

"It was addressed, but not to your satisfaction," Russell said. "We don't have the manpower. We've explained it to you a hundred times. We have bad intersections in Greenport and other areas in town and police have to also enforce every motor vehicle law, including drunk driving and speeding."

Shipman said tragedy could strike again. He said he warned the board on August 12, 2012, that the intersection was deadly.

"I told you something was going to happen and it happened," Shipman said. "I am telling you now if it's still not addressed, something is going to happen again. This community doesn't want this to happen again."

He said he was asking for targeted enforcement at that location. "I understand it's a big town and there are a lot of problems but four people died because of the problems."

Flatley said since last summer's tragic accident the police department has added another officer to its highway patrol unit, "affording us better coverage for all traffic enforcement. These units, along with our normal sector cars, have been assigned for enforcement at this location and have written summonses for unsafe U turns at this location as well as other infractions. Unfortunately, we cannot assign an officer all day long throughout the weekend at this one location, but we are attempting to cover it to the best of our ability, realizing that with no presence at this site, the likelihood of unsafe U turns increases. We have also witnessed countless limousines and buses avoiding this intersection by traveling to alternate locations to perform safer turns to direct them westbound safely."

Flatley added, "All of our officers are acutely aware of the severity of last summer's tragic motor vehicle accident that claimed the lives of four young women at this location."

After the meeting, Russell told Patch, "It is a very dangerous intersection. Although it was the scene of a horrific accident, we have many in Southold. Despite this, the police department has committed considerable resources to monitoring the site."

As for Vineyard 48, Russell said, and what Shipman "perceives as code violations, he is not quite right. The temporary restraining order prevented the sale of cigars in the store there. It did not require the closing of the building for sale of accessory winery-related items. Up until recently, the operator had been compliant with the TRO," Russell said.

"Recently, we found out that they started selling cigars and we took immediate action," Russell said. "I can appreciate the focus he is placing on the facility considering the history, however, he wants us to use all of the town’s resources to harass and intimidate the business. I have said in the past and will say it again, the town had never sought to close the business down. We sought to bring it into compliance with the town code. We were successful and have gotten substantial compliance from the operator."

In May, the Shipmans were dismayed to learn that the State Liquor Authority had ruled on the Vineyard 48 case — and given the winery what the couple believes is a "slap on the wrist."

Vineyard 48 representatives could not immediately be reached for comment.