Boy Scout, 12, Dies After Drunk Driver Plows Into Troop: Cops

MANORVILLE, NY — A community is cloaked in mourning Monday after learning that one of the Boy Scouts critically injured by an alleged drunk driver in Manorville Sunday has died.

According to Suffolk County Police, 12-year-old Andrew McMorris, of Wading River, died of injuries sustained when he was struck by a vehicle on David Terry Road; he was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center and then transferred to Stony Brook University Hospital following the crash.

Thomas Lane, 15, of Shoreham, was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he is being treated for serious injuries; Denis Lane, 16, Shoreham, Kaden Lynch, 15, of Calverton, and Matthew Yakaboski, 15, of Calverton, sustained non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Shoreham-Wading River School Superintendent Gerard Poole posted a message on the district's website; Andrew was a student in the district.

"The district was deeply saddened to learn of the horrific accident that occurred this weekend involving several Shoreham-Wading River students, which resulted in the tragic passing of one of our middle school students," a message on the district's website said. "Our crisis response team met early this morning to formulate and implement a plan to aid our school community cope with this loss. Support services will be made available to students and staff as needed."

According to Police, Thomas Murphy, 59, of Holbrook, was arrested and charged with DWI after the crash, which took place at 1:55 p.m.

Murphy was driving a 2016 Mercedes southbound when he struck a group of Boys Scouts from Troop 161 of Shoreham. The Scouts walking northbound on the shoulder of the roadway, police said.

Murphy was held overnight at the Seventh Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Monday, police said.

According to Troop 161's website, the Scouts were scheduled to have a two-session hike on the Greenbelt Trail in Manorville and were hiking with their adult leader, as well as other Scouts, at the time of the crash, Scouting officials said. Scoutmaster Matthew Yakaboski and other troop representatives did not immediately return a request for comment.

The Boy Scouts of America's Suffolk County Council released a message about the tragedy on social media: "As part of the Suffolk County Council, our Scouting family is going through a terribly painful time," the message said. "We are sad to confirm the death of one of our young members following a vehicle-related incident while hiking. We offer our deepest condolences to the victim's family, and we will support them in any way that we can. Our thoughts remain with the Scouts still recovering from this incident. Please join us in keeping all those affected in your thoughts and prayers," said Ryan DiBernardo, Scout executive/CEO, Suffolk County Council, Boy Scouts of America.

Detectives are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to call the Major Case Unit at 631-852-6555 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220 TIPS.

Photo courtesy SCPD.