Sara Burack, a luxury real estate agent who starred in Netflix’s “Million Dollar Beach House,” died at age 40 following a hit-and-run accident in Hampton Bays, New York, on June 19. Southampton Town Police confirmed that Amanda Kempton, 32, of Virginia, was arrested and charged in connection with the fatal incident.
Officers responded to a 911 call at approximately 2:45 a.m. on June 19 and found Burack unconscious on Montauk Highway near Villa Paul Restaurant. She had suffered severe head trauma, with extensive brain injuries and brain bleeds, a fractured skull, and multiple broken bones, including a leg fractured in two places.
Emergency responders transported Burack to Stony Brook University Hospital, where she went into cardiac arrest at the scene but was revived and placed on life support. According to close friend and family spokesman Paulette Orlando-Corsair, Burack remained on life support for several hours before being removed from mechanical ventilation. She died at 3 p.m. on June 19, approximately 12 hours after the collision.
Kempton was arraigned in Southampton Town Justice Court on Saturday, June 21, where she pleaded not guilty to leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in a fatality. The charge carries a potential sentence of up to seven years in prison. She was released after her family posted $100,000 bail.
The investigation involved detectives from the Southampton Town Police Department and the New York State Police Accident Reconstruction Unit. Evidence at the scene included tire brake marks, indicating the driver saw Burack before impact. Orlando-Corsair expressed frustration with the police investigation, stating that the family had been left without updates about the case.
Burack gained recognition through her appearance on “Million Dollar Beach House,” which aired for one season in 2020 on Netflix. The reality series followed real estate agents from Nest Seekers International as they competed for luxury property listings in the Hamptons. The show was later picked up by Max and retitled “Selling the Hamptons,” though Burack did not appear in the subsequent version.
A real estate professional for over a decade, Burack worked at Nest Seekers International from 2012 until leaving the firm approximately one year ago, though she maintained close relationships with former colleagues. Her background included working in her family’s commercial construction material sales business before transitioning to luxury real estate.
Burack had explained her path into real estate in a 2020 interview with Hamptons.com, noting her experience as a summer property manager led to her broker career. She specialized in second homes and investment properties, primarily serving New York City clients seeking Hamptons retreats. Her LinkedIn profile indicated she also held a yacht broker license and worked as an events coordinator for Social Life magazine.
Beyond her professional work, Burack was involved in philanthropic activities, co-chairing galas and fundraising events in New York City for various causes and foundations. She volunteered with the ASPCA, Southampton Animal Shelter, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, according to her professional profiles.
Geoff Gifkins, Hamptons regional manager for Nest Seekers International, described the loss as tremendous for Burack’s parents and close friends. Orlando-Corsair characterized her friend as someone who would help anyone and was known for her generous spirit. She noted that Burack was in good spirits when seen by acquaintances on the evening before her death.
The location of the incident, Montauk Highway near Villa Paul Restaurant, is described as a commercial area with multiple dining establishments and a gas station. Orlando-Corsair speculated about potential drunk driving involvement, noting the Hamptons’ history with DWI incidents. She appealed for anyone with information to contact Southampton Town Police, emphasizing that “someone died in a horrendous way.”
Burack graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania, completing her degree in three years and studying abroad twice in London. She had expanded her real estate work to Miami properties in recent years, maintaining licenses in multiple markets.
She is survived by her parents, sister, and brother-in-law. Authorities continue to ask anyone with information about the crash to contact the Southampton Town Police Department at 631-728-3400 or 631-702-2230.
