The TIMES of Smithtown
Volume 28, No. 21
Serving Smithtown • St. JameS • neSconSet • commack • hauppauge • kingS park • Fort Salonga July 23, 2015
$1.00
Vineyard visit ends in tragedy
Going for the ultimate crown
Also: Kittens galore at Save-A-Pet;, ‘Reasons to Be Pretty’ in Northport, Amber Ferrari at Theatre Three
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Photos from Facebook
From left, amy grabina, Brittney Schulman, lauren Baruch and Stephanie Belli.
Crash claims graduates of Commack, Smithtown By phil corSo
Zeldin zoning in on drugs
Congressman stumps in Kings Park to support anti-drug legislation
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A risky U-turn in Cutchogue has left the greater North Shore community directionless. A limousine filled with friends doing the right thing fell victim to a driver who was doing the wrong thing when Steven Romeo, 55, was driving his red pickup truck in Cutchogue allegedly under the influence of alcohol and collided with
the limousine as it attempted to make a U-turn near the intersection of Depot Lane and County Route 48, killing four and injuring six, including Romeo, Suffolk County District Attorney Tom Spota said. Emergency responders reported four victims dead on arrival, including Smithtown’s Brittney Schulman, 23, and Lauren Baruch, 24, as well as Stephanie Belli, 23, of Kings Park, and Amy Grabina, 23, of Commack. The crash also injured limo driver Carlos Pino, 58, of Bethpage, Joelle Dimonte, 25, of Elwood, Melissa Angela
Photo by Phil Corso
Suffolk county District attorney tom Spota, right, briefs the media on monday afternoon in Southold alongside the town’s police chief, martin Flatley. the fatal crash is still pending investigation.
Crai, 23, of Scarsdale, Alicia Arundel, 24, of Setauket, and Olga Lipets, 24, of Brooklyn, all of whom were still hospitalized on Wednesday, Spota said. Romeo was arraigned on Sunday at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport due to injuries sustained in the crash and pleaded not guilty to one count of driving while intoxicated. He was ordered held in lieu of $500,000 cash bail or $1 million bond, Spota said. Spota provided more details on the accident at a press conference in Southold on Monday afternoon alongside Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley, who was on the scene soon after the collision. “This was a gathering of young women who were behaving responsibly by hiring a limo for the day, enjoying the North Fork vineyards together,” Spota said. “They knew they would be consuming some alcohol, and because they wanted to act responsibly, they did not choose to drive.” Spota said the limousine kicked off its Saturday afternoon trip at Baruch’s home in Smithtown, embarking on a vineyard tour on the eastern part of Long Island, stopping at the Long Island Vodka Distillery in Baiting Hollow and
then Vineyard 48 in Cutchogue. They were on their way back to Smithtown when the driver of the limousine, who Spota said was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, made the turn and the fatal accident occurred. The news sent shock waves through Smithtown and the entire North Shore, moving Smithtown Supervisor Pat Vecchio (R) to order all flags at town buildings to fly at half-mast. “The entire Smithtown community is affected by such a tragic loss and mourns deeply,” Vecchio said in a statement. “The shock of the loss of four young and beautiful women in the prime of life is difficult to comprehend. We pray for the families and friends who are suffering so.” Belli, Baruch and Schulman were all decorated members of the national and language honor societies by the time they graduated from Smithtown High School West and were remembered Monday as shining lights in their graduating classes. Schools Superintendent James Grossane said Belli, a 2010 graduate, had an infectious smile and was an enthusiastic student and member of the district’s championship kickline team. Baruch, a 2009 graduate, was best known CRASH continued on page A13