Manorville, New York - 5 Boy Scouts Hospitalized, 1 Dies After Being Hit by Suspected Drunk Driver Thomas Murphy

12-Year-Old Boy Scout Dies After Group is Struck by Alleged Drunk Driver

One of the five Boy Scouts struck by a suspected drunk driver has died from his injuries and four others were also hospitalized following the crash. The accident happened in the town of Manorville on Long Island on Sunday, September 30.

59-year-old Thomas Murphy was charged with driving while intoxicated. According to police, Murphy was driving a 2016 Mercedes on David Terry Road at around 2 p.m. when he struck the group of Boy Scouts from Troop 161, who were walking along the road.

One of the boys was critically injured and later died from his injuries. All five scouts were hospitalized. The victims ranged in age from 12-16.

Police have identified the boy who died as 12-year-old Andrew McMorris. 15-year-old Thomas Lane was seriously injured. 15-year-old Kaden Lynch, 16-year-old Denis Lane, and 15-year-old Matthew Yakaboski suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The DWI charges against Murphy are expected to be upgraded following the death of McMorris.

Legal Recourse For Drunk Driver Victims and Their Families

Attorney contributor Laurence Banville helps find justice for the families of fatal DWI accidents. We’ve asked him to contribute some information to The Legal Herald on the legal options available to these families in the state of New York:

When a drunk driver causes a fatal accident, the victim’s family is suddenly burdened with unimaginable grief, along with various financial and personal setbacks. Despite the fact that the dangers of drunk driving are universally known, reckless individuals continue choosing to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. Though taking legal action may not ease the pain of grief, the families affected by drunk driving deserve financial compensation for the damages they’ve suffered.

In New York, families in this difficult situation may have two options for legal action. They can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the intoxicated individual who caused the accident and, in some cases, these families can file a lawsuit against an alcohol vendor or social host who provided alcohol to that intoxicated individual.

According to New York’s dram shop and social host laws, these third parties can be held liable for alcohol-related injuries and deaths if:

• alcohol was sold or provided to someone who was either under 21 years of age or “visibly intoxicated” at the time of the sale, and
• the sale of the alcohol caused or contributed to the person’s intoxication

If you or someone you love has recently been hit by a drunk driver, you can learn more about your family’s legal options by speaking to an experienced DUI victims lawyer.

Source:

https://abc7ny.com/1-dead-man-charged-with-dwi-after-car-plows-into-boy-scouts/4377783/