Update: Flanders woman held on $5K cash bail after morning crash
Update (11:45 a.m.): A Flanders woman was charged with leaving the scene of an accident Wednesday morning after allegedly driving a car into three people, leaving one person in intensive care at Stony Brook University Medical Center.
Amanda DaCosta, a 2007 Riverhead graduate, was held on $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond at an arraignment in Southampton Town Justice Court this morning.
Southampton Town Justice Barbara Wilson said charges could be upgraded. The vehicular crime bureau may investigate the case further.
Ms. DaCosta’s court appointed attorney, Colin Astarita of Southampton, said Ms. DaCosta had been “attacked” by the man who is now hospitalized, and that people at the Flanders home followed her as she attempted to drive away.
At least one person at the scene tried to stop Ms. DaCosta from driving, according to a statement read aloud in court.
Ms. DaCosta had allegedly been drinking just prior to the incident, according to witness statements read aloud in court.
Justice Wilson said she was arrested “many hours later.”
Ms. DaCosta lives with her sister in Flanders and currently works as a nurse’s assistant at the Westhampton Care Center, according to court statements. She has no criminal history.
The victim, who was not identified, is currently intubated at the intensive care unit at Stony Brook University Medical Center, Justice Wilson said in court.
Ms. DaCosta is due back in court Feb. 5.
Original Story: One person was hospitalized and a woman arrested after she allegedly drove a car into three people after a dispute broke out outside a Flanders home just after midnight Wednesday, according to a resident of the home.
The resident, who asked his name not be published, said he lives at the Riverside Avenue home with his sister and two children.
His sister had “a few friends” over, and they were in the front of the house smoking cigarettes when a fight broke out, he explained. Then one guest, whom he identified as Amanda DaCosta, allegedly got into a car and drove into three people and the house before driving off.
“She got in her car and ran it into my house,” he said.
She was located and arrested, he said.
Ms. DaCosta was led into Southampton Town Justice Court about 9:30 a.m. by police.
A Medevac helicopter landed at the community center on Flanders Road and transported a victim to Stony Brook University Medical Center.
The resident said the two children were in the back at the house at the time of the incident and were not physically harmed.
