UPDATE: Both Drivers Charged After Collision

Update Wednesday 10:12 a.m.: Both motorists were charged with driving without a license after a two-vehicle collision on County Road 39A Tuesday at 4:48 p.m. in Southampton Village.

Det. Sgt. Herman Lamison of the Southampton Village Police Department said that one driver had a revoked license, while the other had no license at all.

Luis Marcos Ortega-Pillacela, 38, of Water Mill, was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the second degree and circumventing an interlock device, both misdemeanors, Lamison said. An interlock device is a court-ordered ignition accessory that prevents a vehicle from starting while the operator has alcohol on his breath.

Ortega-Pillacela was behind the wheel of a 1999 Ford F-150 pickup truck, which police seized under the Suffolk County Vehicle Seizure Law, Lamison said. The truck was smashed in on the front passenger side. The wheel was turned outward, so Rapid Recovery's wrecker had to drag it onto the flatbed.

Lamison said Ortega-Pillacela was released after posting $350 bail.

Tieka L. Allen, 23, of Calverton, who was behind the wheel of a 2004 two-door Chrysler Sebring, was issued summons who driving without a license and having inadequate headlamps, both infractions, as well as aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree, a misdemeanor.

The Sebring was towed by Corwith's Auto Body due to damage — the frontend was smashed in — and Lamison said Allen was released on an appearance ticket for a later court date.

The eastbound merging lane on County Road 39A, just east of the North Sea Road intersection, was blocked as the vehicles were removed. Lamison said the scene was cleared by 5:38 p.m., and no injuries were reported.

Until the accident report is complete, he cannot say what caused the collision, Lamison said.

ORIGINAL:

The eastbound merging lane on County Road 39A, east of the North Sea Road intersection, was closed for a time Tuesday after 5 p.m. as a two-vehicle accident was cleared up.

Corwith's Auto Body sent a wrecker to remove a two-door Chrysler Sebring RT, which sustained frontend damage. Rapid Recovery removed a Ford F-150 pickup truck, which was smashed in on the front passenger side. The wheel was turned outward, so Rapid Recovery's wrecker had to drag it onto the flatbed.

Southampton Village police were on scene.