Sara Burack, a luxury real estate agent who starred in Netflix’s “Million Dollar Beach House,” died Thursday following a hit-and-run accident in Hampton Bays, New York. She was 40 years old.
Southampton Town Police received a 911 call at approximately 2:45 a.m. on June 19, 2025, about a woman lying unconscious on Montauk Highway near Villa Paul Restaurant. Officers found Burack with serious injuries consistent with being struck by a vehicle that had fled the scene. She was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Amanda Kempton, a 32-year-old Virginia woman, was arrested Friday and charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident in which a fatality occurred. Kempton was arraigned Saturday and pleaded not guilty to the charges before being released on $100,000 bail.
According to court proceedings, Kempton’s attorney indicated that his client believed she had struck a traffic cone due to foggy conditions and did not see the victim. After leaving the scene, Kempton went to a friend’s house where she discovered Burack’s large pink wheeled suitcase lodged underneath her vehicle. Authorities tracked Kempton through license plate readers and found her vehicle with front-end damage at her family’s home in Manorville.
Court documents revealed that Kempton had spent time at a tavern before the incident, though prosecutors indicated that alcohol was not considered a factor in the case. The marine biologist, who holds degrees from George Mason University and Nova Southeastern University, faces up to seven years in prison on the felony charge.
Burack sustained severe head trauma, multiple broken bones, and went into cardiac arrest at the scene before being revived and placed on life support. Medical officials determined there was no brain activity, and she was removed from life support, dying at 3 p.m. on June 19. A close friend noted that tire brake marks were visible at the collision site, suggesting the driver had seen Burack before impact.
The victim had been walking in the westbound lane of Montauk Highway while pulling her distinctive pink suitcase when she was struck. Prosecutors described Kempton as a flight risk during the arraignment, noting she had been scheduled to return to Virginia for a wedding.
Burack gained recognition through her appearance on “Million Dollar Beach House,” which aired for one season in 2020. The reality series followed agents from Nest Seekers International as they competed to sell luxury properties throughout the Hamptons. The show was later picked up by Max and retitled “Selling the Hamptons,” though Burack did not appear in the subsequent series.
A veteran of the luxury real estate industry, Burack worked for Nest Seekers International for more than a decade before leaving the agency about a year ago while maintaining close relationships with colleagues. She specialized in high-end properties in Manhattan and the Hamptons.
In a 2020 interview with Hamptons.com, Burack explained her career path, noting that her family operated a commercial construction material sales business where she had worked for many years. She indicated that her experience as a summer property manager for rental houses sparked her interest in becoming a real estate broker. Burack stated, “It was only natural to turn my love for real estate into a blossoming career.”
Beyond her real estate work, Burack was active in philanthropy and charitable endeavors in New York City. She co-chaired galas and black-tie events while raising funds for various causes and foundations. Her LinkedIn profile indicated volunteer work with the ASPCA, Southampton Animal Shelter, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Colleagues described Burack as a dedicated professional who had spent approximately 11 years working between Manhattan and the Hamptons. Geoff Gifkins, Nest Seekers International’s Hamptons regional manager, expressed condolences to her family and friends, requesting privacy and respect during their time of loss.
The case represents a Class D felony under New York State law, with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death carrying a potential sentence of up to seven years in prison. Southampton Town Police continue their investigation in conjunction with the New York State Police Accident Reconstruction Unit.
Burack is survived by her parents, sister, and brother-in-law. The incident occurred during the busy summer season in the Hamptons, where Burack had built her reputation selling luxury properties to high-end clientele over more than a decade in the real estate industry.