Police Investigate Cause of Jitney, Garbage Truck Crash

Southampton Town police are looking into the cause of a collision on County Road 39A Monday morning between a Hampton Jitney and a garbage truck that injured both drivers and tied up traffic for hours.

The crash at 4:37 a.m. happened when the 2004 MAC garbage truck was headed westbound and the bus pulled out of the Hampton Jitney depot, making a left turn on County Road 39A eastbound, according to police.

Ezio Vessella, 45, was behind the wheel of the truck, which belongs to Bay Shore company National Waste Service, police said. Southampton Volunteer Ambulance took Vessella to the Southampton Brook Southampton campus, where they met a Suffolk County police medevac helicopter that airlifted him to Stony Brook University Hospital.

Det. Sgt. Lisa Costa said Vessella's injuries were serious, but he is in stable condition.

The driver of the Hampton Jitney, Quincy Lassiter, 53, of Central Islip, suffered minor injuries, according to police, and was taken by Southampton Volunteer Ambulance to Southampton Hospital where he was treated and released.

The road reopened after 9 a.m.

In addition to police and ambulance personnel, Southampton Fire Department fire police and heavy rescue units responded to the crash and the Suffolk County Police Department Motor Carrier Safety Unit responded for a safety check of both the bus and the garbage truck, town police said. The Suffolk County Department of Works cleaned debris that was strewn on the road.

Both drivers were issued summonses for violation transporatation law and/or traffic law, though no criminal charges were filed. Police said the garbage truck driver was cited for the truck being overweight.    

Detectives request that witnesses call 631-702-2238.