It was disclosed on Saturday that Ms. Amanda Kempton, a 32-year-old resident of Virginia, stated she believed she had collided with a traffic cone, not a pedestrian, in relation to the incident that resulted in the death of Ms. Sara Burack.
According to the Southampton Town Police Department, Ms. Kempton has been formally charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident in connection with the fatal hit-and-run involving Ms. Burack, aged 40, who was known for her appearance on the Netflix series Million Dollar Beach House.
At approximately 3:00 a.m., Ms. Burack was reportedly walking in the right-hand lane of the Montauk Highway, pulling a pink wheeled suitcase, when she was struck by a vehicle alleged to have been operated by Ms. Kempton.
Ms. Sara Burack sustained catastrophic injuries in the incident, including severe cranial trauma and multiple skeletal fractures. Despite being transported with urgency to Stony Brook University Hospital, she succumbed to her injuries later that same afternoon.
The accused, Ms. Amanda Kempton—a 32-year-old marine biologist—entered a plea of not guilty during her arraignment on Saturday. During the hearing, she asserted that she believed she had struck a traffic cone, rather than a pedestrian, and was unaware that the individual involved was Ms. Burack, a known reality television personality.
Following the hearing, Ms. Kempton was released from police custody after her family provided collateral in lieu of the $100,000 bail set by the court. Authorities confirmed that her family resides in Manorville, a hamlet located within Suffolk County on Long Island, New York, commonly described as the “gateway to the Hamptons.”
According to The Independent, Ms. Amanda Kempton faces a potential custodial sentence of up to seven years if convicted of the felony charge of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death.
During arraignment proceedings, Prosecutor MacDonald Drane advocated for the imposition of a substantial bail amount, citing Ms. Kempton as a potential flight risk on the basis that she departed the scene of the incident. As reported by The New York Post, the prosecution further noted that Ms. Kempton had intended to travel to her home state of Virginia to attend a wedding on the same day as the hearing.
The defendant, a 32-year-old native of Virginia, appeared visibly emotional during the hearing, reportedly struggling to hold back tears as the court reviewed the details of her planned travel.
Defense counsel William Keahon informed the court that, despite Ms. Kempton having been present at a tavern earlier in the evening, alcohol is not believed to have played a role in the incident. Mr. Keahon further contended that heavy fog significantly impaired visibility at the time of the collision, and that his client did not observe Ms. Burack in the roadway prior to the impact.#newsafro_
