Charges Upgraded In Crash That Killed West Islip Man

This story was posted by Greg Sleter. It was written by Judy Mottl.

The Suffolk County District Attorney is upgrading charges against the driver allegedly responsible for a deadly multi-car crash in Sayville last January in which a West Islip man was killed.

Thomas Herman, 46, of Patchogue, is scheduled to be arraigned in Central Islip Friday morning on a 24-count indictment, according to Newsday. The top charge is second-degree murder for the death of Sam Longo, 82, of West Islip, who died at the scene of the accident on Montauk Highway.  

Herman was initially charged with driving under the influence of drugs and leaving the scene of an accident and has been held on $300,000 bond at the Suffolk County Jail.  

According to the Newsday report, the DA claims Herman was high on drugs, including morphine and anti-anxiety prescription drugs, when he careened into seven cars, and was “fleeing the scene of no less than four accidents” while speeding on Montauk Highway in Sayville on January 13.  

According to initial police reports, Herman hit several cars before running head-on into Longo’s car. Longo’s 79-year-old passenger was severely injured.  

District Attorney Thomas Spota said that investigative data from Herman’s Trailblazer indicates he was traveling at 87 mph when he hit Longo’s Hyundai Elantra.