Crashes on Sunrise Highway leave nun dead, 3 other people injured

SOUTHAMPTON, LONG ISLAND, NY – A Long Island nun died after her car was involved in one of two crashes on the same roadway in Suffolk County on Thursday afternoon, according to Newsday.

New York State Police said Sister Josephine Dagostino of Bellmore was driving a Toyota Corolla in the eastbound lane of Sunrise Highway near Exit 63 when the first accident happened shortly before 1:45 p.m. Her car was hit from behind by a Chevy Malibu and Sister Dagostino, age 85, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Malibu, 39-year-old Maria Rivera of Yaphank, was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center with injuries that were not regarded as life-threatening. No passengers were in the two vehicles.

A second accident took place on Sunrise Highway about 25 minutes later. Authorities said 58-year-old John Bieber of Baiting Hollow was driving a tractor-trailer near Exit 63 when he slowed down in traffic resulting from the first crash and was hit from behind by three other vehicles. Two of the three drivers were transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center with injuries that were not life-threatening.

Both accidents remain under investigation, police said.

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