East Hampton Man Charged With DWI After Fleeing Water Mill Crash

Police say the 2-car crash took place on Friday night.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 9:51am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered car side mirror reflecting the flashing lights of a police vehicle, conceptually illustrating the aftermath of a hit-and-run DWI incident.The aftermath of a DWI-related hit-and-run crash exposes the dangers of impaired driving and the need for stricter enforcement.Water Mill Today

A 36-year-old East Hampton man was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated after leaving the scene of a two-car crash in Water Mill, New York on Friday evening. Police say Marco F. Pineda Pineda was observed driving erratically on Montauk Highway shortly after the incident and was pulled over, at which point he was found to be operating his vehicle in an intoxicated state.

Why it matters

Leaving the scene of an accident and driving under the influence are serious offenses that endanger public safety. This incident highlights the need for stricter enforcement of DWI laws, particularly in areas with high traffic volume like the Montauk Highway corridor.

The details

According to Southampton Town police, the two-car crash took place at the intersection of Montauk Highway and Proprietors Road in Water Mill at around 8:09 p.m. on Friday. The driver of one of the involved vehicles, a 2012 Honda, had fled the scene before police arrived. A patrol officer later spotted the vehicle traveling eastbound on Montauk Highway and failing to maintain its lane near Main Street in Sagaponack. The driver, identified as Marco F. Pineda Pineda, was pulled over and found to be operating his vehicle while intoxicated.

  • The 2-car crash took place on Friday at 8:09 p.m.
  • Shortly after the crash, a patrol officer spotted Pineda's vehicle traveling eastbound on Montauk Highway near Main Street in Sagaponack.

The players

Marco F. Pineda Pineda

A 36-year-old East Hampton resident who was arrested and charged with DWI and leaving the scene of the crash.

Southampton Town Police

The law enforcement agency that responded to the crash, conducted the traffic stop, and made the arrest.

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What’s next

Pineda was held overnight for morning arraignment at Southampton Town Justice Court.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the need for stricter enforcement of DWI laws and consequences for drivers who flee the scene of an accident. Impaired driving continues to be a major public safety concern, especially in high-traffic areas like the Montauk Highway corridor.