Lloyd Harbor Man Hurt in Huge LIE Pileup

A Lloyd Harbor man was seriously injured in multi-vehicle crash Wednesday on the Long Island Expressway.

Robert Murphy, 57, was one of more than 30 people injured in the crash that occurred in Shirley, just west of the William Floyd Parkway. He was listed in critical condition with a head injury at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital in East Patchogue.

Police said Raymond Simoneau, 42, of Rockingham, Vt., was driving a tractor-trailer east on the LIE when his vehicle struck several cars.  A total of 35 vehicles were involved in a chain-reaction crash. The tractor-trailer, which was carrying storm debris, and two additional vehicles caught fire and were extinguished by fire department personnel.

A Blue Point woman, 68, was killed in the crash.

Ridge Fire Chief John Mirando, a 21-year-veteran of the fire department, called the scene the "most horrific scene I have ever saw."

Mirando, whose department has command of the scene, said that when he arrived at the site three cars were on fire and "victims were scattered all around." Three cars had victims pinned inside, though Mirando did not say how many people had to be extricated.

The tractor-trailer and some of the vehicles will be impounded for safety checks. 

Suffolk County Police Seventh Squad detectives are investigating the crash.

Riverhead Patch staff contributed to this story.