Wrong-way driver causes head-on crash in Mattituck, police say

An 80-year-old Southold man driving the wrong way on Route 48 struck another vehicle head-on in Mattituck on Wednesday night — sending both drivers to the hospital, Southold Town Police said.

Daniel Melhado was driving a 2018 Ford east in the westbound lane near Elijah’s Lane when he collided with a westbound 2020 Chevrolet driven by Paris Ahmad, 23, of Brightwaters, according to police. The crash was reported at 9:04 p.m.

Mr. Melhado was airlifted to Stony Brook Univeristy hospital, while the other driver was taken by ambulance to Peconic Bay Medical Center.

Mr. Melhado had left his house around 7 p.m. to pick up Chinese food, his wife told police. The concerned spouse called Southold Police around an hour later, saying he hadn’t returned, according to Southold PD Capt. Scott Latham.

Officers then began searching several nearby restaurants before being notified of the crash, which shut down the busy thoroughfare, police said.

“It was serious enough that they closed the road, took measurements, and impounded the vehicles for safety checks,” Capt. Latham said.