Police Say Huntington Teen was on Drugs in Fatal NYE Crash

Police said a Huntington teen was driving with his ability impaired by drugs when he crashed twice and killed another driver, a 63-year-old Commack woman, on Commack Road Tuesday.

According to police, James Murphy, 19, of Huntington, was driving a Chevrolet Blazer north on Commack Road at about 3:25 p.m. on New Year's Eve when he sideswiped a Mercedes just before New Highway, near the Commack Public Library. The driver of the Mercedes, Andrea Linton-Parkes, 50, of Dix Hills, was not injured, according to the report. Right after, at the intersection, Murphy was said to have broadsided a Hyundai sedan driven by Herta Palma, 63, of Commack. Palma was taken to Huntington Hospital where she was pronounced dead shortly after 4 p.m., police said. The driver of the Mercedes, Andrea Linton-Parkes, 50, of Dix Hills, was uninjured.

Police shut down Commack Road between Delaware Avenue and Wicks Road until 9 p.m. Tuesday to conduct their investigation.

Murphy and his passenger suffered minor injuries and were treated at St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown.

The 19-year-old was charged with driving while intoxicated. Anyone with information should call the vehicular crimes unit at 631-852-6555.

*This article originally stated that James Murphy was charged with DWI. He was charged with DWAI.