East End Notebook: Alleged Hit-and-Run Driver Arrested; Fire Damages Historic Inn

Here is a roundup of top news from around the East End this week. Click the headlines for more on east story.

NORTH FORK

Fire Destroys Third Floor of Shelter Island Inn

A compromised brick and mortar chimney caused a fire that broke out around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night at the historic Belle Crest Inn on Shelter Island Wednesday night. Shelter Island police also reported that one fireman sustained a minor burn injury for which he was he was hospitalized. The blaze, which police said had engulfed the third story attic space, was quickly brought under control by firefighters from the Shelter Island, Greenport and Sag Harbor Fire Departments.

A motorist passing by the inn noticed the fire and notified the owners of the house, Herbert and Yvonne Loinig, who left the scene safely, police said. Aimee Loinig, the daughter of the owners who came from Connecticut to the house Thursday morning, confirmed that the damage was “pretty bad” throughout the house but was thankful her parents, who have owned the 100-year-old Belle Crest since 1984, were not hurt.

WESTHAMPTON-HAMPTON BAYS 

Judge Sets Timeline for Eruv Cases; Dismisses One of Three

After months of motions and briefs filed back and forth, Westhampton's eruv controversy was back in the courts this week, when oral arguments commenced before Judge Leonard D. Wexler's on Monday. During the hearing, Wexler, according to a New York Times report, dismissed one of three cases and set a timeline to hear the remaining two cases.

RIVERHEAD

Pedestrian Dies After Being Struck by Car in Wading River

Wading River on Thursday evening has died, police said.

Wading River resident John W. Hyte, 52, died after being struck by a car driven by Riverhead resident Anthony Simonetti, Jr., 71, police said.

According to Riverhead police, a call came in at 5:51 p.m. about an accident that took place in Wading River at Route 25A near Little Leaf Court.

Police said no arrests were made.

EAST HAMPTON

DA: Man Confesses to Fatal Hit-and-Run

Edward L. Orr allegedly confessed to leaving the scene of the accident that killed John Judge as he crossed Main Street in Amagnsett in October 2012.

Dan Cronin, an assistant district attorney, toldEast Hampton Town Justice Catherine A. Cahill that the Suffolk County DA's office felt that the bail set should be significant because he is currently on probation for a prior felony and the likelihood Orr will be sentenced to time in an upstate prison.

East Hampton Town police arrested Orr, a 30-year-old Montauk resident, on Thursday afternoon, charging him with leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in a fatality, a felony

SOUTHAMPTON

Thief Runs Off With Donation Jar for Crash Victim

An unidentified man ran into the 7-Eleven in Sag Harbor last Saturday and grabbed a donation jar from the counter before driving away, according to The East Hampton Star. The jar was there to help an employee of the store who was hospitalized in critical condition after being hit by a Jeep Jan. 15.