New City Man Pleads Guilty in Fiery, Fatal Motorcycle Crash

Clifford Perkins, 26, pleaded guilty Friday to negligent homicide in the death of a New Jersey man in a fiery motorcycle crash on the Sprain Brook Parkway in 2014.

The accident took place May 25 but the New City resident was not charged until 11 months later, after a lengthy accident reconstruction by investigators.

Here's what they figure happened.

Perkins was operating a 2002 Yamaha motorcycle southbound on the Sprain Brook Parkway at a high rate of speed, he struck the rear of a 2001 Mazda, operated by Edward T. Murray, Jr. of Mamaroneck, who was also traveling south.

Murray told Investigators he was in the center lane when several motorcycles passed him at high speed.

Another witness told investigators that 11-12 motorcycles went past him in the left lane at 90 to 100 miles per hour.

Moments later, Murray observed another motorcycle coming up behind him at a high rate of speed. He saw that motorcycle -- later identified as Perkins' -- start to wobble just before it struck his vehicle from behind.

Subsequent accident reconstruction by the New York State Police determined that the Yamaha struck the rear bumper of the Mazda, causing the car to rotate counter clockwise, cross into the left lane and left shoulder of the roadway, then strike the center guide rail and re-enter the left lane.

Perkins was ejected from his motorcycle and landed on the right shoulder. His motorcycle burst into flames.

The accident reconstructionist calculated that the Yamaha had a minimum speed of 82-95 miles per hour after the impact with the Mazda.

When the Mazda re-entered the left lane after striking the center guide rail, a BMW motorcycle operated by Scott Phillips struck the car’s passenger side. He was ejected from his motorcycle and landed down an embankment off the right shoulder of the roadway.

His motorcycle also burst into flames.

The accident reconstructionist calculated Phillips had a minimum speed of 58-67 miles per hour after the impact with the Mazda.

Phillips, of West New York, NJ, was pronounced dead at the scene. Perkins was taken to Westchester Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Murray was transported to Westchester Medical Center with minor injuries and released several hours later.

At the time of the collision, Perkins possessed a revoked and suspended New York State License with a cancelled motorcycle endorsement.

Perkins was indicted by a grand jury 11 months later, in April 2015, on a list of charges:

• one count of Criminally Negligent Homicide, a class “E” Felony,
• one count of Reckless Endangerment, a class “A” Misdemeanor,
• one count of Reckless Driving, an unclassified VTL Misdemeanor,
• one count of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree, an unclassified VTL Misdemeanor,
• various other traffic infractions

Perkins remains out on bail and is due to be sentenced June 1, said Acting Westchester County District Attorney James A. McCarty. He faces one and a third to four years in prison on the negligent homicide charge.

Assistant District Attorney Jean Prisco of the Superior Court Trial Division is prosecuting the case.