Police: One Dead After Drugged Driver Causes 4-Car Crash

A man driving while high on drugs triggered a 4-car crash in Shirley Tuesday night that killed one man and sent numerous others to the hospital, police said.

According to police, 31-year-old Kendell Owens, of Middle Island, was driving a 2005 Infiniti G35 east on Montauk Highway when his vehicle struck a 2006 Chrysler Sebring, driven by Richard Garcia, 45, of Shirley, who was traveling north on the William Floyd Parkway.

Garcia was transported by ambulance to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue where he was pronounced dead.

Alyssa Toth, 23, of Mastic, was driving a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze north on William Floyd Parkway behind Garcia’s car and crashed into his car after the initial collision. She was transported to an area hospital where she was treated for minor injuries and released.

Xavier Patino, 37, of Queens, was driving a 2011 BMW X6 west on Montauk Highway and was struck by the first two vehicles. Patino and his four passengers, including an infant boy and a 2-year-old girl, were transported to an area hospital to be checked out and were later released, police said.

Owens, who police say initially fled the scene on foot, was arrested and charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs and leaving the scene of an incident without reporting involving a fatality. He was transported to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue where he was treated for minor injuries and released. He was being held at the Seventh Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned later Wednesday at First District Court in Central Islip.

Owens told reporters Wednesday morning that he was high on PCP at the time of the crash, according to NBC 4.

“I’m sorry for anyone that was hurt,” Owens said, according to the report, adding that Wednesday is his daughter’s birthday. “I’m sorry for being a bad dad today.”

SCPD Photo: Kendell Owens