Georgica Pond was opened on October 15, and, as the driver of this Jeep discovered too late, the cut is too deep for vehicles. Jim Williams photo
The driver of a white Jeep apparently misjudged the depth of the cut at Georgica Pond on Sunday, resulting in a waterlogged vehicle.
East Hampton Town Trustee Clerk Diane McNally said on Monday that the Trustees, who usually try to open the pond to the ocean in mid-October, had done so right on schedule this year—on October 15.
“We don’t like to publicize it because it goes from a bucket width of about 5 feet to 20 feet real quickly,” she said. “It moves fast and can be very dangerous.”
Ms. McNally, who had not heard about Sunday’s mishap, said beach drivers should be careful when approaching the cut because it can be deceptively deep and the current can be strong.
East Hampton Town Police said Eric Berkowitz, 44, of Bridgehampton was driving his 2012 Jeep Wrangler westbound on the beach early Sunday afternoon when he tried to ford the Georgica cut. Mr. Berkowitz and a passenger were able to get out of the vehicle, which was submerged up to the top of the passenger side door. The vehicle was towed out by Balcun’s Service Center of East Hampton.
Wow!