Edward Yedid, a luxury home designer known for his high-end architectural work, faced charges of driving while intoxicated after a Christmas Day crash in the Hamptons. The 46-year-old co-founder of Grade New York reportedly told the family involved in the accident, "Sorry, my car just drives really fast," according to the New York Post. Police records showed that Yedid was allegedly speeding on an East Hampton road when he swerved into an oncoming lane and collided with a BMW SUV.
The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. with Yedid behind the wheel of a 2021 Porsche Taycan 4S. A family of three was on their way to see "Wicked" when their car was struck. "We only had a second to react, and he just smashed into us," Arianna Thomas, a passenger in the BMW, told the New York Post. She, her partner, and her father suffered minor injuries, as did Yedid, who was treated at the hospital along with the family. Thomas claimed they could "smell alcohol immediately," after Yedid exited his vehicle, alleging that his eyes were "completely bloodshot," and he was dressed in "head-to-toe designer clothes."
Further supporting the claims of intoxication, police noted that Yedid seemed unsteady and exhibited bloodshot, glassy eyes. The arresting officer detected "the odor of an alcoholic beverage upon [Yedid's] breath," as stated in the Hindustan Times. Additionally, he "performed poorly on standardized field tests," which led to his arrest.
The charges against Yedid included driving while intoxicated, failure to keep right, speed not reasonable, and driving an uninspected car. He was initially taken to Southampton hospital, where he was released with instructions, to return to the police station on December 27 for further processing of his arrest. Yedid, who did not comment on the charges, is scheduled for arraignment on January 8. His blood-alcohol content at the time of the arrest has not been disclosed.
The Christmas Day crash underscored the often sobering intersection of privilege and recklessness. "We were in the hospital for Christmas," lamented Thomas, documenting the immediate physical toll of the incident: a bruised knee for herself, a cut and bruise for her partner, and back pain for her father, as detailed by the New York Post. The incident has dramatically highlighted the fragility of well-being, even amidst the seasonal cheer of the holidays.
