Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
A 59-year-old Holbrook man was arrested on a DWI charge after his vehicle plowed into a group of Boy Scouts walking along the shoulder of David Terry Road in Manorville just before 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 30, 2018, according to ABC7 News. The crash left one 12-year-old boy dead and four others injured, ranging in age from 15 to 16.
The scouts — members of Troop 161 — were on their way to a hike and were accompanied by adults at the time of the collision, ABC7 News reported. Five boys in total were struck by the vehicle. The group was walking on the side of the road when the car made impact, leaving multiple victims at the scene requiring emergency medical attention.
Andrew McMorris, 12, a 7th grader at Albert Prodell Middle School, was killed as a result of his injuries. The Suffolk County Council, Boy Scouts of America confirmed his death the following Monday. According to ABC7 News, Thomas Lake, 15, suffered the most serious injuries among the survivors and was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he remained under care for serious injuries. Three other scouts — Denis Lane, 16; Matthew Yakaboski, 15; and Kaden Lynch, 15 — sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment.
Police arrested Thomas Murphy, 59, of Holbrook, at the scene and charged him with driving while intoxicated. Murphy was due to be arraigned in court in Central Islip on October 1, 2018 — the morning after the crash. The case was reported by ABC7’s Naveen Dhaliwal, who filed from nearby Shirley.
Suffolk County detectives are continuing their investigation and are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the crash to come forward. Witnesses can contact the Major Case Unit at 631-852-6555 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.
Location & Road Context
David Terry Road in Manorville is a stretch of roadway in eastern Suffolk County, an area characterized by semi-rural terrain with limited pedestrian infrastructure. Shoulders on roads like David Terry Road are frequently used by pedestrians, cyclists, and in this case, organized groups conducting outdoor activities — making the presence of an impaired driver especially dangerous. Manorville sits in the heart of Long Island’s Pine Barrens region, where low traffic volumes can give drivers a false sense of security and, in cases of impairment, reduce inhibition around speed and lane control.
For ongoing traffic conditions in the Manorville area and across eastern Suffolk County, visit our Long Island roads tracker.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Thomas Murphy was charged with driving while intoxicated following his arrest at the scene on Sunday afternoon, according to ABC7 News. He was scheduled to appear before a judge in Central Islip on Monday, October 1, 2018. As of the initial reporting, no additional charges — such as vehicular manslaughter — had been publicly announced, though the investigation by the Suffolk County Major Case Unit was ongoing.
Given that the crash resulted in a fatality involving a child, it is expected that prosecutors would evaluate whether to upgrade or add charges as the investigation progressed. In New York State, a DWI that results in death can be elevated to Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, a Class B felony carrying significant prison time — a distinction that would be determined as the legal process moved forward. Anyone with information relevant to the case was urged to contact detectives at 631-852-6555 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.
Broader Impact
The death of Andrew McMorris puts a devastating human face on a pattern that Suffolk County law enforcement has worked aggressively to combat: afternoon and weekend DWI incidents that claim the lives of pedestrians and cyclists on rural roads with minimal protective infrastructure. In New York, a DWI conviction involving the death of a child can result in charges as serious as Aggravated Vehicular Homicide under Penal Law § 125.14 — a Class B felony that carries up to 25 years in state prison. The specific charges Murphy would ultimately face depended on the blood alcohol concentration confirmed by toxicology and the findings of the ongoing Major Case Unit investigation. For resources on your rights following a crash involving an impaired driver on Long Island, see our Know Your Rights guide.