Driver killed, passenger seriously hurt in fiery, head-on Riverhead wreck

A speeding driver was killed and his passenger suffered serious injuries when their SUV slammed head-on into an oncoming car, overturned and caught fire in Riverhead on Saturday, police said.

The four-vehicle wreck unfolded as night fell on Osborn Avenue, south of Reeves Avenue, shutting a major north-south route through town for hours. Police received the first report around 5:02 p.m.

Dilmer Regaldo Giron, 26, of Shirley, was heading south in a Ford Escape when he tried to pass a Honda Accord driven by Marelin Galdamez, according to Riverhead Town police.

The Ford crossed into the northbound lane and hit a Tesla Model X head-on. The impact flipped the SUV, which then struck the Accord and a parked Honda CR-V, police said.

Officers arrived to find the Ford on fire with both occupants trapped inside. They extinguished the flames with help from nearby residents as Riverhead firefighters rushed to free the two men.

Mr. Giron was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, Elver Noel Velasquez Jeronimo, was taken by Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps to Peconic Bay Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

The Tesla’s driver, David Alvarez, was also taken to the hospital by ambulance with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, police said.

Riverhead detectives and the New York State Police Accident Reconstruction Team responded to assist in the investigation.

Osborn Avenue reopened early Sunday morning.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call Riverhead police at 631-727-4500, ext. 289.