Edward Yedid, 46, co-founder of the design firm Grade New York, was arrested for driving his Porsche while intoxicated after a Christmas Day car crash in East Hampton. Following the crash, Yedid reportedly told the family in the other vehicle, “Sorry, my car just accelerates really quickly.”
Who is Edward Yedid?
Edward Yedid is a renowned interior designer and co-founder of GRADE New York, a full-service design firm specializing in architecture and interior design. He gained recognition in 2019 for co-authoring New York Contemporary: Grade Architecture and Interiors.
Yedid was also featured in a profile titled “Cool Hot Spots in the Hamptons: Edward Yedid’s Favorite Recommendations” on The Invisible Collection website, an upscale home-goods marketplace.
The profile highlights his refined tastes, recommending dinner at Le Bilboquet in Sag Harbor. “Edward’s Favorites — Dinner at Le Bilboquet, Sag Harbor — elegant, on the water, wonderful food and service, feels like Europe and the ambiance is energetic,” the profile notes.
The incident
Police reported that Yedid was driving his 2021 Porsche Taycan 4S at high speed on Newtown Lane around 2:30 p.m. when he veered into oncoming traffic. The designer, described as dressed in “head-to-toe designer clothes,” collided with a 2016 BMW SUV occupied by a family of three en route to see the movie Wicked.
All involved were treated for minor injuries at a local hospital.
Victim describe Yedid
Arianna Thomas, 30, a passenger in the BMW, claimed she smelled alcohol on Yedid as he exited his car after the crash. “We could smell alcohol immediately,” she said. “He was wearing head-to-toe designer clothes when he got out of the car, eyes completely bloodshot.”
Police corroborated signs of intoxication, noting Yedid had “bloodshot glassy eyes,” was “unsteady on his feet,” and smelled of alcohol. They reported that he “performed poorly on all standardized field tests” and provided a breath sample.
Thomas also alleged Yedid apologized, saying, “Sorry, my car just drives really fast.” The designer asked if the family was okay, to which Thomas responded, “I told him not to speak to me.” When police inquired about his alcohol consumption, Yedid allegedly replied, “Just today?”
Reflecting on the event, Thomas said the crash “showed how quickly life could change.” She noted bruises on her right knee, her partner’s cuts and bruises, and her father’s back pain. “We were in the hospital for Christmas,” she added.
‘We only had a second to react’
Thomas recounted that she, her partner, and her father were “casually driving” along Newtown Lane when Yedid’s silver Porsche abruptly rounded a corner and struck their vehicle.
“We only had a second to react, and he just smashed into us,” she said. Thomas credited her father’s quick reaction for averting a more severe head-on collision. According to her and the police report, her father swerved, resulting in the Porsche striking the front left of their car.
Charges against Yedid
Yedid was arrested and transported to Southampton Hospital, where he was released with instructions to return to the police station on December 27 for the completion of his arrest processing. He is required to appear in court for arraignment on January 8, police records show.
He faces charges including driving while intoxicated, failure to keep right, unreasonable speed, and driving an uninspected vehicle.
