Southampton, NY – June 21, 2025 — In a case that has gripped both the Hamptons and the national spotlight, 32-year-old marine biologist Amanda Kempton appeared in court Saturday after being arrested in the fatal hit-and-run death of celebrity real estate agent Sara Burack. Choking back tears as she faced a felony charge, Kempton entered a plea of not guilty while her attorney claimed she mistook the victim for a traffic cone in the early-morning collision.

Prosecutors allege that Kempton struck Burack, 40, as she was walking along Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays late Thursday night, pulling a large pink suitcase. The impact killed Burack instantly. Kempton, authorities say, left the scene without calling for help.

During her arraignment at Southampton Town Justice Court, prosecutors described Kempton as a flight risk. “She fled the scene and was scheduled to return to Virginia for a wedding on Saturday,” said Assistant District Attorney MacDonald Drane, requesting a $100,000 bail. The court ultimately released Kempton after her family posted collateral in lieu of the bail amount.

Burack, known in the luxury real estate world for her appearances on Netflix’s Million Dollar Beach House, had built a reputation as a rising star in the Hamptons property market. Her sudden death has left clients, friends, and fellow realtors stunned.

“A bright light was extinguished far too soon,” said a statement from her brokerage, Lux Group Palm Beach. “Sara brought joy and energy to every deal and every room. This tragedy is incomprehensible.”

Kempton, a native of Virginia with degrees in microbiology and marine biology, has spent recent months working with youth programs at Camp Jekyll in Georgia. Prior to that, she held a role at the Children’s Museum of the East End in Bridgehampton.

On Saturday, dressed in an orange sweatshirt and black slacks, Kempton sat quietly in court as her family looked on in silence. Her attorney, William Keahon, told the judge that the accident occurred under foggy conditions and that Kempton did not realize she had hit a person. “She thought it was a traffic cone,” he said. “Only later, when she saw the pink suitcase lodged beneath her car, did she understand something was terribly wrong.”

After the crash, Kempton reportedly drove to a friend’s house nearby. Authorities later used license plate reader technology to trace her vehicle back to her family’s home, where they discovered it with visible front-end damage and the suitcase still beneath it.

Although prosecutors stated that Kempton had been at a tavern earlier that night, they confirmed that alcohol was not considered a contributing factor in the case.

Kempton has been charged with a felony count of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death. If convicted, she faces up to seven years in prison.

The courtroom appearance was emotional. As the details of the fatal incident were read aloud, Kempton appeared visibly shaken. At several points, she wiped tears from her eyes, struggling to maintain composure.

Outside the courtroom, neither Kempton nor her family offered comment. The Burack family has also remained largely private during the early stages of the investigation.

Still, the public interest in the case continues to grow—not just because of the personalities involved, but because of the troubling nature of the incident itself.

“This isn’t just about fame,” said one Hampton Bays resident who left flowers at the scene of the crash. “It’s about accountability. If you hit someone, you stop. You help. You don’t just drive away.”

Burack’s death adds to a troubling trend of pedestrian fatalities on Long Island roadways, especially in less-lit areas without sidewalks. Local officials have long called for improved infrastructure and greater driver awareness.

As the community mourns, friends and colleagues are remembering Burack not only for her TV presence, but for her generosity, drive, and ambition.

“She was the definition of a self-made success,” one former colleague posted online. “This never should have happened.”

Kempton is due back in court next month. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office has not ruled out further charges as the investigation continues.

For now, the Hamptons are left grappling with the loss of a bright, bold figure in their real estate world—and with the lingering question of how a moment of confusion on a foggy road turned into a life-ending tragedy.