A tragic car crash in East Hampton on Sunday evening resulted in the death of a 19-year-old East Hampton High School student and left six other teenagers hospitalized, one with serious physical injuries. Police reported that the incident occurred just before 7:40 p.m. when 18-year-old Luis Gonzalo Barrionuevo-Fuertes, of Moriches, was driving a 2009 Toyota Camry south on Old Stone Highway. He reportedly lost control of the vehicle, causing it to overturn and collide with a tree near Deep 6 Drive.

Scarleth S. Urgiles, 19, an East Hampton resident and passenger in the vehicle, died at the scene. Another 18-year-old passenger, also from East Hampton, was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital, where she remains in serious but stable condition. Five additional teens involved in the crash were transported to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital by East Hampton and Amagansett ambulances for treatment.

The East Hampton Union Free School District confirmed the student's death on its website, announcing that counselors would be available at the school the following Monday. East Hampton High School Principal Sara Smith expressed profound sadness, stating, "One of our beloved students has passed away as a result of an automobile accident that also involved other East Hampton students who sustained injuries."

Barrionuevo-Fuertes was arrested at the scene and faces charges of aggravated driving while intoxicated under Leandra’s Law, as well as driving while intoxicated and endangering the welfare of a child. Leandra's Law designates driving while intoxicated with a passenger under 16 in the vehicle as a felony. He was scheduled for arraignment on Monday afternoon in East Hampton Town Justice Court. The vehicle has been impounded for a safety inspection, and authorities are requesting anyone with information regarding the incident to contact detectives at 631-537-7575.

This incident adds to a concerning trend on Long Island, where traffic crashes are a frequent occurrence, causing death, injury, or significant property damage approximately every seven minutes on average. A Newsday investigation revealed that between 2014 and 2023, traffic crashes on Long Island led to over 2,100 fatalities and more than 16,000 serious injuries.