What Happened
A 2001 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck and a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter limousine bus collided at the intersection of County Route 48 and Youngs Avenue in Southold at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, sending six people to area hospitals with minor injuries, according to the Southold Police Department as reported by The Suffolk Times.
According to The Suffolk Times, Anne Pizzicara, 89, of Southold, was driving the Tacoma westbound on County Route 48 when she attempted to turn left onto Youngs Avenue. In doing so, she failed to yield to an eastbound Sprinter limousine bus driven by Darryl Atkinson, 58, of Uniondale, and the two vehicles collided. Heavy rain was lashing the North Fork at the time of the crash.
Both Pizzicara and Atkinson were transported to area hospitals for evaluation of minor injuries. Four passengers aboard the Sprinter were also taken to hospitals. Three additional passengers in the limo bus were evaluated at the scene by emergency personnel but declined medical transport, per The Suffolk Times. No charges were filed against either driver following the collision.
The Southold, Greenport, and Cutchogue fire departments all responded to the scene alongside Southold Police. Traffic on County Route 48 backed up in both directions while officers investigated the crash and worked to clear the roadway.
Location & Road Context
County Route 48 — also known as Middle Road — is one of the primary east-west arterials serving the North Fork of Suffolk County, connecting communities from Riverhead through Southold and beyond. The intersection with Youngs Avenue is a well-traveled junction in the heart of Southold, and the road regularly carries heavy traffic, including commercial vehicles, farm trucks, and, particularly in summer, limousine and party bus services ferrying visitors to the area’s wineries and vineyards. Our local incident database includes 630 recorded accidents in Suffolk County, reflecting the volume and variety of traffic hazards across the region.
Broader Impact
The crash unfolded during a period of heavy rainfall across the North Fork, conditions that routinely reduce visibility and increase stopping distances — particularly at unsignalized or left-turn-heavy intersections like County Route 48 at Youngs Avenue. Summer weekends amplify the risk further, as the corridor sees a significant spike in limo and party bus traffic serving the region’s wine country, putting larger vehicles with multiple passengers squarely in the path of local drivers navigating the same roads. Anyone involved in a crash of this type and seeking guidance on next steps can review Long Island Traffic’s know-your-rights resources.