21-Year Old Man Dies After Speeding Off Beach Into LI Sound: Cops

RIVERHEAD, NY — A 21-year old has died after driving his vehicle off the beach and into the Long Island Sound in Riverhead, police said.

According to Riverhead Town Police, a 911 call came in Wednesday at 7:23 p.m. about a car that plunged into the Long Island Sound at the end of Roanoke Ave. Witnesses reported that the man drove down the beach access ramp at a "high rate of speed," continued across the beach and entered the water; the vehicle became submerged in the water about 100' offshore with the driver still inside, police said.

Two civilians who witnessed the incident dove into the water and tried desperately to get the driver out; police officers, fireman and emergency services personnel who raced to the scene also entered the water, police said.

First responders were eventually able to get the driver out of the vehicle and bring him ashore; he was unresponsive and not breathing, police sad.

Despite resuscitation efforts, he was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased at 8:09 p.m., police said..

The young man was not immediately identified, pending the notification of his next of kin; the circumstances of the accident are still under investigation, police said.

Patch file photo