What Happened
A 28-year-old Riverhead man was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated Friday night after his vehicle struck a pedestrian crossing County Road 31 in Westhampton, according to Patch. Southampton Town police received a 911 call at approximately 11:03 p.m. reporting a pedestrian struck on CR31. Officers arriving at the scene found a male pedestrian lying in the middle of the northbound lane of travel with significant physical injuries.
The pedestrian had been crossing CR31 near the Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base when he was struck by a northbound red 2005 Ford Mustang, Patch reports. The driver of the Mustang was identified as Douglas Chun Mayen, 28, of Riverhead. An investigation conducted at the scene revealed that Chun Mayen was intoxicated by alcohol at the time of the crash, according to Southampton Town police. He was subsequently arrested at the scene.
Chun Mayen was charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, as well as multiple violations of New York State vehicle and traffic law, police said. He was held overnight at police headquarters for morning arraignment, per Patch’s report.
The injured pedestrian was transported from the scene by the Westhampton War Memorial Ambulance to a rendezvous point with Suffolk County Police Department aviation, then airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital. Police confirmed the pedestrian sustained head and leg injuries, though those injuries are not considered life-threatening.
The crash and subsequent investigation prompted the closure of CR31 in both directions — between the railroad crossing and Stewart Avenue — for approximately 90 minutes. Southampton Town Police detectives, patrol division officers, community response unit officers, Westhampton Beach Village Police Department officers, and New York State troopers all responded to the scene to assist.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the Southampton Town Police Department’s detective division at 631-702-2230.
Location & Road Context
County Road 31 is a north-south corridor through the Westhampton area of Southampton Town, connecting inland communities to the South Shore. The stretch of CR31 near the Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base — a major military installation in the area — carries regular vehicle traffic, including late-night activity. The closure between the railroad crossing and Stewart Avenue disrupted traffic flow in both directions for about 90 minutes on a Friday night, a peak travel period in the Hamptons region during summer. For real-time updates on road closures and incidents on Long Island, check our live traffic page.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Douglas Chun Mayen was charged with driving while intoxicated under New York law — a misdemeanor for a first offense — along with multiple vehicle and traffic law violations. He was held overnight at Southampton Town Police headquarters and arraigned the morning of Saturday, August 1, 2026. The investigation was led by Southampton Town Police detectives, with assistance from multiple agencies. The Southampton Town Police Department’s detective division continues to handle the case and is soliciting any additional information from the public at 631-702-2230.
What This DWI Charge Means
Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law §1192, there are several tiers of alcohol-impairment offenses. Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI) applies when a driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) is between 0.05% and 0.07%, and is a traffic infraction rather than a criminal charge. Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) — the charge Chun Mayen faces — applies at a BAC of 0.08% or higher and is a misdemeanor for a first offense. Aggravated DWI, the most serious tier, applies at a BAC of 0.18% or higher and carries enhanced penalties. The exact BAC level in this case has not been publicly released.
For a first-offense DWI in New York, consequences can include fines ranging from $500 to $1,000, a mandatory minimum six-month license revocation, a possible jail sentence of up to one year, and a mandatory ignition interlock device requirement upon license restoration. A second DWI offense within ten years elevates the charge to a felony, with significantly steeper penalties including longer license revocation, higher fines, and mandatory incarceration. Drivers who refuse a chemical test — breathalyzer or blood draw — face an automatic one-year license revocation and a $500 civil penalty, independent of any criminal outcome, under New York’s implied consent law.
Case Status & Updates
It is important to note that a criminal charge is an accusation — Douglas Chun Mayen is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The case is expected to proceed through a New York district court arraignment, followed by further proceedings in Long Island’s criminal court system. Long Island Traffic monitors DWI cases through the courts and will update this report as arraignment outcomes, pleas, and any sentencing become part of the public record. Check back at this page for the latest developments.
Broader Impact
This crash occurred on a summer Friday night on a road adjacent to a major military base — a stretch that sees a mix of local, tourist, and military-connected traffic. The pedestrian’s crossing of a multilane road at night underscores the vulnerability of those on foot along CR31, a corridor without the dedicated pedestrian infrastructure found in more urbanized parts of Long Island. Southampton Town Police have not released any information about lighting conditions, marked crosswalks, or the presence of pedestrian signals at the crossing point near the Gabreski base.
Updates
- Aug 1, 2026: Additional reporting merged into this article: “Pedestrian struck by Mustang, seriously injured in Westhampton DWI crash” (source)