A Greenport man charged with driving while intoxicated after a fatal head-on crash on December 6 will be arraigned tomorrow at 9 a.m. in Southold Town Justice Court, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said Monday.
John Costello, 71, was driving eastbound in his 2008 Chevy pickup truck when he crossed over the double yellow line into the oncoming lane on Route 25 in Greenport and crashed into a 2006 Honda driven by Oseas Manell Ramirez, 22, of Peconic, according to police.
A passenger in the vehicle Costello struck, Miguel Bartolone, died of his injuries at Stony Brook University Hospital.
Southold Town police arrested Costello and charged him with of driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor. While hospitalized, he posted $250 bail and was issued a desk appearance ticket.
At his initial arraignment tomorrow, Costello will be formally charged with one count of driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor.
Ramirez was treated at ELIH and released.
Costello was transported to ELIH and then taken by ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital, according to a police press release.
Investigations by Southold police and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office continue, police said.
Costello is the owner of Costello Marine Contracting in Greenport, police confirmed Sunday; he is also a former Greenport Village Trustee.
Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley said Costello was in police custody while at Stony Brook University Hospital being treated for “non-life-threatening” injuries.
While it was raining heavily at the time of the accident, Flatley said it has not yet been determined if the weather was a factor in the crash.
Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation. By law, a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
