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A Westhampton man was arrested on a felony charge of driving while intoxicated Friday night after a two-vehicle collision on Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays, according to Southampton Town police.
Authorities responded to the crash around 8:51 p.m. following a report of a collision near the intersection of Montauk Highway and Springville Road. When officers arrived, they found two vehicles with significant damage but no life-threatening injuries, a police spokesperson said.
Investigators determined that one of the drivers, 38-year-old Mateo Jimenez, was operating his vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Field sobriety tests and a preliminary breathalyzer indicated a blood alcohol concentration well above the legal limit of 0.08 percent, according to the police report.
Jimenez was taken into custody without incident and charged with felony DWI, a classification that in New York applies when the driver has at least one prior DWI conviction within the past 10 years or when the incident causes injury. Court records show Jimenez was convicted of a DWI in Suffolk County in 2017, which elevated Friday’s charge to a felony.
“This arrest underscores the serious consequences of impaired driving,” said Southampton Town Police Chief Steven Skrynecki in a statement Sunday. “Our officers are trained to identify and remove intoxicated drivers from the road before they cause tragedy.”
After being processed at the Seventh Precinct, Jimenez was held overnight for arraignment at Southampton Town Justice Court. He faces up to four years in prison if convicted of the felony DWI, along with fines, license revocation, and mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device.
The crash remains under investigation. Police have not released the identity of the other driver, who was treated at the scene for minor injuries and declined medical transport, according to the spokesperson.
Jimenez’s arrest is the latest in a string of DWI incidents in the Hamptons this spring. According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, there have been 47 DWI arrests in the town of Southampton since January 2025, a 12% increase compared to the same period last year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that alcohol-impaired driving fatalities account for nearly one-third of all traffic deaths nationwide, reinforcing the importance of strict enforcement.
Local residents and advocacy groups have called for increased patrols along Montauk Highway, a busy corridor that sees frequent tourist traffic. “We’re seeing a troubling pattern,” said Mary Beth Henson, a spokesperson for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Long Island chapter. “Each arrest is a reminder that one wrong decision can change lives forever. We applaud the police for their vigilance.”
The case highlights New York’s tough stance on repeat DWI offenders. Under state law, a felony DWI conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 days in jail or 30 days of community service, with higher penalties for those with multiple prior convictions. The court may also order substance abuse treatment and victim impact panels.
Jimenez’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 21. Efforts to reach his attorney for comment were unsuccessful as of Sunday evening.
For those in the Hampton Bays area, the incident serves as a sobering reminder of the risks of driving after drinking. Local authorities advise residents to designate a sober driver, use ride-sharing services, or call a taxi. “There is no excuse for getting behind the wheel impaired,” Chief Skrynecki added. “We will continue to enforce the law aggressively.”
Police encourage anyone with information about Friday’s crash to contact the Southampton Town Police Department at (631) 702-2200 or call 911 in an emergency.
