Gregg Saunders was the victim taken from us on Thursday thanks to yet another driving fatality that took place in the Hamptons. Mr. Saunders was just 55 years old, a real estate developer from a highly respected family, and because Benjamin Rechler, 19, of Brookville, had reached into the backseat of his car to adjust his surfboard, he swerved into the wrong lane and hit Mr. Saunders car head on in East Hampton on thrusday.
I don’t know about you but I’ve had enough of news like this. I don’t remember a summer in my life where there were so many driving fatalities, everything from a nun being killed by an illegal immigrant to a drunken driver crossing into the wrong lane to a guy getting hit while riding his bicycle. The list goes on and on, nearly every week this summer, somebody has died from a car accident on the East End. This community is too small to have this level of car accidents.
I think it’s time that local leaders and politicians start issuing press releases and start a publicity campaign to start reminding people how important it is to stay safe on the roads. Let’s try to stop this trend, it’s not going in the right direction, and drive safe!
Being a victim of my sister who was killed by a drunk driver with no remorse my heart and condolences are with all families here. However As a mom and I know Ben Rechler is the most conscience and best citizen I know. Tragedies and freak accidents unfortunately do happen! No words so horrible and sad to both! However Ben a young person with no malice should be left alone as he feels so horrible – I would rather be the passenger! Have a heart!
This.
I am disgusted to think that a man’s life was cut short because an irresponsible driver was more concerned about the surfboard in his back seat than in paying attention to the road in front of him. I think he should be charged criminally for his actions. (And why didn’t his passenger adjust his surfboard?) I know the Audi driver received two summones. At the very least, he should be forced to take a remedial Driver’s Ed course.
I was driving east on sunrise one weekend day and a car had a surfboard tied on to the top with ropes! The surfboard was literally hanging off, sliding down the back windshield. Had it fallen off it couldv’e cause some serious damage to the cars around him. This car got off at the Westhampton exit and I wondered how it went alll that way and why nobody saw it.
My point is this goes on every single day, all over LI, not just in the Hampton’s. People need to call 911 if they see anything that could be potentially dangerous to others.
i was out your way recently and a charity was raffling off a jason kidd shirt, right after he was arrested for drunk driving. what is wrong with you people.
It’s sad what happened but you shouldn’t blame a young man who didn’t have any intentions of this happening. He wasn’t driving drunk he didnt have any drugs in his system.. it was just a freak accident. It happens all the time and it could happen to anyone.