Riverhead Board of Education member Matthew Wallace was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated by Riverhead Police on Friday night after a reported two-car accident.
Wallace, 54, a Calverton resident who also serves as vice president of the Wading River Fire Disrtrict Board of Commissioners, has served on the school board since 2019 and was re-elected in May.
The arrest of one unnamed male for DWI was reported by Riverhead Police at 8:27 p.m. on Friday, at West Main Street and Mill Road, according to the police blotter sent weekly to the press. According to sources, Wallace was involved in a two-car accident in the vicinity of Snowflake Ice Cream and Funchos Restaurant on West Main Street Friday night, which resulted in traffic being temporarily shut down on West Main Street east of Mill Road. The male operator of one vehicle was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center with a laceration to his head.
Wallace initially declined comment when reached by phone today. In a subsequent phone call placed to RiverheadLOCAL, he said he hit a parked car and acknowledged he sustained a minor facial injury. No one else was injured, he said.
Wallace was arraigned on Saturday morning, Riverhead Police Chief Ed Frost said. No additional information about the arrest was immediately made available by the Riverhead Police Department. A Freedom of Information Law request for the incident report has been filed by RiverheadLOCAL.
Riverhead School Superintendent Cheryl Pedisich was not immediately available for comment early Tuesday afternoon. The school district’s public relations firm sent an emailed statement to RiverheadLOCAL later Tuesday afternoon.
“The district is aware that Matt Wallace, one of the district’s Board members, was arrested on a charge related to a vehicular incident that occurred last Friday evening,” district spokesperson Ron Edelson said in the statement. “This is a personal matter, and out of respect for Mr. Wallace and his family, the district has no comment at this time. Similarly, we are asking that our community show restraint in commenting on this matter.”
A phone message left for Wading River Fire District Manager Gregory Michalakopoulos was not immediately returned.
Denise Civiletti contributed reporting.
Editor’s note 6/24/25 3:40 p.m.: This article was amended to include a statement sent by a school district spokesperson received after initial publication.
The survival of local journalism depends on your support.
We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community.
Support RiverheadLOCAL today.
