Romy Lauer, the 20-year-old daughter of disgraced former NBC “Today” show host Matt Lauer, has been issued a summons for fleeing the scene of an accident following a Fourth of July weekend incident in the Hamptons.
The college student reportedly crashed her Jeep Wrangler into a fence and a sign in Southampton, then fled the scene, leaving behind a crucial piece of evidence – her license plate.
According to local sources, the incident occurred around 4 a.m. on July 5 on North Sea Mecox Road.
A concerned neighbor, awakened by a loud noise, called 911 fearing someone might be injured. When Southampton Town police arrived, they reportedly found a damaged fence and sign, but no vehicle.
However, the detached license plate allowed them to quickly identify Romy Lauer as the driver.
Earlier in the evening, Romy had posted a TikTok video of herself and friends dining at Kissaki Sushi in Water Mill, showcasing their holiday celebrations.
The video featured the group lip-syncing to a popular quote, “God bless our troops, God bless America, and gentlemen, start your engines!”
Matt Lauer’s daughter, Romy, used racing quote on TikTok hours before car crash: ‘Gentlemen, start your engines’https://t.co/efUf4fCOn2 pic.twitter.com/HfmYZDdESO
— Brightly (@BrightlyAgain) August 29, 2024
Edward Burke Jr., a high-profile attorney known for representing celebrities including Justin Timberlake and previously Matt Lauer, is reportedly handling the case. Burke’s involvement underscores the seriousness of the situation and the Lauer family’s connections in the area.
Romy, a finance student at the University of Miami, is the daughter of Matt Lauer and his ex-wife, Dutch model Annette Roque.
The couple divorced in 2019 following Lauer’s highly publicized firing from NBC amid sexual misconduct allegations. Their divorce settlement included Roque receiving the family’s Hamptons horse farm in Water Mill, where Romy, an avid equestrian, has competed in the Hampton Classic.
This incident brings the Lauer family back into the spotlight after Matt Lauer’s fall from grace in 2017.
Lauer, who hosted “Today” from 1997 to 2017, faced numerous allegations of sexual harassment and assault, leading to his termination from NBC.
While he has denied the most serious accusations, Lauer acknowledged acting “inappropriately as a husband, father and principal at NBC.”
Since his dismissal, Lauer has largely kept a low profile, reportedly spending much of his time in New Zealand. He made a brief return to public attention in 2019 when he appeared in a series of TikTok videos on Romy’s account, dancing and singing.