Crime & Safety

Police ID Driver Killed in Friday Night Crash

Samuel J. Spielberg, a 31-year-old father to a young girl, died in an accident in Amagansett, East Hampton police confirm.

While word spread over the weekend who the victim of the fatal accident on Friday night was, police only officially confirmed the man's on Monday morning.

East Hampton Town police detectives identified Samuel J. Spielberg, a 31-year-old East Hampton man, as the man who died when his sport utility crashed into trees off of Red Dirt Road, bursting into flames on Friday night around 11:30 p.m.

Spielberg was the father of a young daughter, according to friends. His family owns Spielberg's Nursery & Garden Shop in Amagansett.

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His family and friends learned of his death on Saturday, but police did not publicly identify Spielberg as the driver until the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's office confirmed his identity.

Police will conduct a safety check of the 2002 Toyotoa 4Runner on Monday. There were no other vehicles involved.

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Police were called to a vehicle fire, just west of Old Stone Highway, and when responding officers and the Amagansett Fire Department arrived, they found the vehicle was ablaze. After firefighters extinguished the fire, the single occupant was found deceased.

"Preliminary investigation indicates that this vehicle failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway, left the roadway striking trees and overturning," police said in a statement.

The accident is still under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the East Hampton Town Police Department at (631) 537-7575.

Please join East Hampton Patch in offering our condolences to the Spielberg family. If you have a photograph of Sam Spielberg, please upload it here by clicking "Upload Photos & Video." If you would like to tell us more about him, please leave a comment below or email Taylor.Vecsey@patch.com. Our thoughts are with his family during this very difficult time. 


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