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Details have been released after a fatal crash involving an allegedly impaired driver led to the hours-long closure of a stretch of Sunrise Highway.
Sunrise Highway (Route 27) was closed in East Quogue eastbound at Exit 64 for several hours Thursday morning, June 8.
New York State Police say that a preliminary investigation revealed a 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe, driven by George Hackett, age 52, of Wading River, struck the rear of a 2010 Nissan Armada, driven by Franklin Blake, age 81, of Jamaica, Queens.
The impact caused the Nissan to exit the roadway, overturn several times, and cause Blake to be ejected from the Nissan, resulting in his death, said police.
Hackett fled the scene on foot and was located a short time later by Southampton Town Police.
Hackett was arrested and charged with:
Driving while ability impaired by drugs, a Class D felony,
Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a Class A misdemeanor.
Hackett will be arraigned at the Town of Southampton Court Friday, June 9.
Anyone who witnessed or has any information on the crash is asked to call state police at 631-756-3300.
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