Driver sought in Riverhead fatal hit-and-run, cops say

Daniel Flammia was known in Riverhead for walking everywhere.

“I remember him from my time on the beat,” Det. Sgt. Edward Frost of the Riverhead Town Police Department said Wednesday. “He just walked everywhere, and everyone would see him and recognized him. Just a real decent guy, too.”

Early on the evening of Nov. 5, as Flammia, 47, was walking home after shopping at the Riverhead Plaza, he was struck by a hit-and-run driver as he walked on the shoulder of Oliver Street, Riverhead Town police said. He was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead.

Twelve days later, as he tried to recover from two broken legs, Flammia died, police said.

On Tuesday, police reached out through Suffolk County Crime Stoppers in an attempt to generate information that might lead to an arrest.

Frost said police have no description of the vehicle, no witnesses and there is no video surveillance in the immediate area.

Flammia was conscious after being hit from behind and complained of pain in his legs, Frost said.

“People nearby heard him shouting and came out, but no one saw anything,” Frost said.

Frost said Flammia was single and his parents were dead, but he has family who have asked police if there was anything new with the investigation.

“We have very little at this point,” Frost said. “Was it that the driver didn’t see him? Did he swerve to hit him? Was he in the roadway? We don’t have any of those details.”

Anyone with more information is asked to call Suffolk Crime Stoppers at 800-220-8477. All calls will be kept confidential.