Long Island officials were warned an accident was waiting to happen where four women were killed in a 2015 limo crash — and a suit over the wreck has revealed a “cover-up” involving an undisclosed witness, a lawyer involved in the case told The Post.
A 2012 email shows that Cutchogue resident Bill Shipman wrote to a Southold town official asking “how many injuries will occur” at a Route 48 intersection near the since-shuttered Vineyard 48 winery, lawyer Bob Sullivan said.
“10-16 in the limo? 4 in the other car? how many cars at 55 mph+? those are answers none of us would like to see,” Shipman wrote.
Shipman’s fears were borne out five years ago Saturday, when a limo leaving Vineyard 48 and making a U-turn across Route 48 at Depot Lane was T-boned by an oncoming pick-up truck.
The collision killed limo passengers Lauren Baruch, Stephanie Belli, Amy Grabina and Brittney Schulman, all in their early 20s.
“This guy predicted the accident three years before it happened and neither the town of Southold nor the county of Suffolk did a thing, not one thing,” alleged Sullivan, who represents the dead women’s families.
“They didn’t give a damn — it’s that simple.”
Sullivan also said pending litigation over the crash had led to the discovery of an ambulance report showing there was a passenger in the pick-up truck, Michelle Canberg, whose identity wasn’t previously revealed.
“The district attorney never told anyone. The police never told anyone,” he said.
Canberg, 39, has denied being present during the incident, even though the report shows her vital signs were recorded at the scene, Sullivan alleged.
“Pt [patient] states she was in Red Pick up truck passenger seat that impacted limo,” the report says.
“Pt states no injuries. Refusing transport.”
Sullivan alleged that Canberg’s presence at the scene wasn’t initially revealed as a favor to pick-up driver Steve Romeo.
“Romeo is a very well-known, popular guy in Southold,” Sullivan said.
“It’s a clear cover-up and there’s been a cover-up in this case from Day One.”
In 2017, Romeo struck a no-jail plea deal to driving while ability impaired that let him off with a conditional discharge, a 90-day license suspension and a $500 fine — prompting profane outbursts in court from relatives of the victims.
A call to the Southold supervisor’s office was referred to the town’s attorney, who didn’t respond to a message seeking comment.
Southhold Police Chief Martin Flatley said, “During the investigation, I don’t think it was ever indicated that there was ever anyone other than Mr. Romeo in the pick-up truck.”
He declined to comment further, citing the suit pending in Suffolk County Supreme Court over the deadly crash.
The Suffolk County Executive’s Office declined to comment, and the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office and Romeo’s lawyer didn’t return messages.
There was no answer at the last known address for Canberg.
Additional reporting by Reuven Fenton