Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
A serious single-vehicle traffic accident on County Road 39 west of the pedestrian bridge near Shrubland Road in Southampton sent emergency responders scrambling and triggered sweeping traffic restrictions around the 126th U.S. Open Tournament at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on the evening of Tuesday, June 16, 2026, Newsday reported.
The crash was confirmed by the United States Golf Association through its official tournament media hub. “Due to a serious single-vehicle traffic accident on County Road 39 west of the pedestrian bridge near Shrubland Road, local authorities are implementing traffic restrictions in the area. Emergency response efforts, including a medical evacuation, are underway,” the USGA statement read. The westbound lane of County Road 39 was closed in the immediate aftermath of the collision, though the hub said it was “due to reopen shortly.” The medical evacuation underway at the scene signals at least one person suffered injuries serious enough to require emergency transport.
The USGA’s media hub was direct in its warning to the tens of thousands of spectators and credentialed media at the course. “As a result, transportation operations and departures from the championship grounds are expected to experience significant delays,” the hub stated. “Fans, as well as media, should plan for heavier traffic and extended travel times leaving the course.” According to Newsday, the article was updated at 6:23 p.m. on June 16, placing the evening disruption squarely in the peak post-practice departure window when thousands of spectators would have been attempting to leave the Shinnecock Hills grounds simultaneously.
The evening accident did not occur in isolation — it piled onto an already punishing traffic day in the Southampton area. Morning congestion had turned travel in and around the town to a crawl earlier Tuesday, though most of those snarls had abated by late morning. Officials had already warned in advance of the tournament that conditions were likely to worsen as the week progressed toward Thursday, when official tournament play begins. Practice sessions are being held Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at the course ahead of the opening round.
USGA spokesperson Julia Pine addressed the anticipated crowd in a statement Tuesday, noting: “We are expecting approximately 150,000 fans on site throughout the week. For comparison, attendance in 2018 was closer to 160,000. We have intentionally set this year’s capacity slightly lower to help ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for all attendees.” Even with the deliberately reduced capacity, the volume of spectators descending on a stretch of eastern Long Island roadways not designed for that scale of traffic was always expected to create challenges — and Tuesday’s crash made those challenges significantly worse.
Adding further complexity to the regional traffic picture, Newsday noted that the 511NY website was also warning of potential traffic nightmares west of New York City, with FIFA World Cup matches beginning Tuesday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Drivers across the New York metropolitan region were simultaneously contending with two major sporting events generating heavy vehicle and transit demand.
Location & Road Context
County Road 39 is a primary east-west artery in Southampton Town, serving as one of the main access corridors for the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club and the surrounding Hamptons communities. The stretch near Shrubland Road and the pedestrian bridge is particularly significant during the U.S. Open because it connects the championship grounds to the broader regional road network, funneling tournament traffic toward the Long Island Expressway and other westbound routes. You can track real-time conditions on roads serving the Southampton area and view town-level traffic updates on our Southampton town page.
The Town of Southampton had already implemented comprehensive travel plans coordinated with the USGA ahead of the tournament, specifically aimed at reducing vehicular pressure on corridors like County Road 39. Those plans included temporary train platforms and pedestrian bridges for Long Island Rail Road access, as well as remote parking facilities paired with shuttle bus service to and from the course — all designed to keep private vehicle traffic to a manageable level in the neighborhoods and roadways immediately surrounding the club.
Broader Impact
Tuesday’s crash illustrated in real time the razor-thin margin for error in the Southampton traffic management plan. With upward of 150,000 fans expected across the week — including substantial crowds during Monday through Wednesday practice sessions before official play even begins Thursday — a single serious accident on one of the primary access roads was enough to cascade into widespread delays affecting thousands of departing spectators and media simultaneously. Drivers heading to or from the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills through the remainder of the week should consult 511NY and the USGA’s transportation updates before departing, and strongly consider the LIRR shuttle and remote parking options the Town of Southampton has made available to reduce pressure on County Road 39 and surrounding local roads.