Driver Admits to Being High When He Caused Chain Reaction Accident

A man from Long Island admitted to local reporters that he was under the influence of PCP when he caused a major car accident on the evening of August 11. The man was driving in Shirley on the William Floyd Parkway at the Montauk Highway and caused a significant chain reaction accident that led to the death of one man. Police later charged the driver with leaving the scene of an accident and driving while impaired by drugs.

The man made his statement to reporters while he was being escorted out of a police precinct in Shirley the morning after the crash. He admitted to having used PCP before the accident and referred to it as the “worst drug in the world.” He apologized for his actions.

The 31-year-old man was reportedly traveling east on the Montauk Highway when he struck a different vehicle heading north on the William Floyd. His car and the other vehicle then both hit a third automobile. A fourth vehicle then crashed into the third after the first collision. The driver of the third vehicle was pronounced dead from his injuries soon afterward at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center. Several other people were injured and taken to local hospitals for treatment, and were eventually released.

Criminal and civil consequences

In addition to the criminal penalties the man is facing, he could also be subject of civil claims for the injuries and death he caused. The fact that he was under the influence of drugs — and publicly admitted such — while operating his vehicle would almost certainly make him liable for the accident. As a result, he could be responsible for providing compensation to victims for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of financial support and other damages.

If you’ve been involved in a New York auto accident, consult an experienced personal injury lawyer with Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP.