Crime & Safety

UPDATE: County Corrections Officer Charged in Fatal DWI Crash

Defendant posted $10,000 bail and was released on Monday.

Update: 2:51 p.m.: Riverhead resident Christopher A. Dean, who was charged with DWI after police allege he struck and killed a pedestrian in a Riverside accident Monday morning, was arraigned on Monday afternoon.

Dean posted $10,000 bail and was released. He is expected back in Southampton Town Justice Court on July 25 at 9 a.m.

Southampton Town Police Chief William Wilson said Dean is employed as a Suffolk County Corrections Officer.

Find out what's happening in Riverheadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Wilson said the victim has still not been identified and the public's help is needed. The investigation, Wilson said, is ongoing.

Original Story: An unidentified pedestrian was killed early Monday morning by a Riverhead man charged with driving while intoxicated, Southampton police report.

Find out what's happening in Riverheadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to police, a call was received at approximately 12:33 a.m. regarding a fatal motor vehicle accident that occurred near the intersection of Flanders Road and Old Quogue Road in Riverside. 

Christopher A. Dean, 41, of Riverhead, who was driving a 2002 Mercedes–Benz, was traveling westbound on Flanders Road when police allege he struck and killed a pedestrian who was walking on the westbound side of the roadway.  

Dean was arrested at the scene and charged with driving while intoxicated. He was transported to Southampton Town police headquarters where he submitted to a blood test and was held overnight for morning arraignment.  

Southampton Town police and detectives responding to the scene found a man lying dead in the westbound travel portion of the roadway.

Members of the Flanders Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the New York State Troopers, and the Riverhead Fire Department also responded to the scene to assist.

Police say the identification of the pedestrian who died is still unknown. He is described as being approximately 5’ tall with black hair, and was a middle aged Hispanic male. At the time of the accident he was wearing tan cargo shorts, a gray polo shirt and white Ferrato sneakers.  

Detectives are asking for help in identifying the man and locating his next of kin. Anyone with information should call the detective unit at 631-702-2230.

Traffic was closed in both directions from the traffic circle to Ludlam Avenue during the course of the investigation and has since reopened.  

Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-up here.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.