Southold police: Jamesport FD assistant chief charged with DWI, leaving the scene

An assistant fire chief in the Jamesport Fire Department was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident last night in Southold Town, according to Southold police.

Police said David J. McKillop, 55, of Aquebogue, was charged with driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident with property damage.

A witness called police at about 6:20 p.m. to report a fire department vehicle left the roadway and crashed into multiple street signs located at Route 25 and Tuckers Lane in Southold. The witness told police the vehicle left the scene westbound on Route 25.

A Southold police officer located a damaged Jamesport Fire Department vehicle traveling westbound on Route 25 at Wickham Avenue in Mattituck.  The vehicle had severe damage to the front end and a large hole in the windshield, according to ap police press release issued late last night.

McKillop was arrested and charged with DWI, Leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident with property damage, operating a vehicle with no headlights on after dark and a defective front windshield, police said. He was held for morning arraignment.

McKillop, a longtime Jamesport Fire Department volunteer, currently serves as the first assistant chief in the Jamesport Fire Department.  He had marched with other Jamesport FD members in the Greenport Fire Department parade yesterday afternoon.

“Dave has been a Jamesport Fire Department volunteer with 20 years of service and has had a spotless record,” said Jamesport Fire Chief John Andrejack. He said he could have no further comment due to the pending charges. “We are still gathering information,” he said.

He is also a longtime social studies teacher and coach at Riverhead High School.

Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation. By law, a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.