L.I. Man Arrested For Driving Under Influence Of Drugs In Crash That Kills Two Teens
RIDGE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - A 20-year-old Ridge man was arrested in the wee hours of Saturday morning for driving under the influence of drugs following a crash that killed two teens on William Floyd Parkway, Suffolk County Police said.
Thomas Smith's car struck a tree at 1:24 a.m., police said, and two of the passengers -- Jacqueline Salvador and Ryan Baumgardner -- were thrown from the vehicle. 19-year-old Salvador of Ridge, Smith's girlfriend, and 17-year-old Baumgardner of Rocky Point were killed instantly, while another passenger -- a 17-year-old male -- suffered non-life-threatening injuries, authorities confirmed.
WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported
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"Any time anyone dies in a car accident it's tragic, but they had no part in it whatsoever except being at the wrong place at the wrong time," Suffolk County Sgt. Dan Malloy told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall.
Smith and a 16-year-old girl in the car, who was sleeping at the time, were not injured, police said.
After the wreck, the pickup truck was a mangled piece of metal, the roof was sheared off, the tire was missing and the door was thrown into the woods.
"He was in a state that we believe he was impaired," Malloy told CBS 2's Ann Mercogliano. "Speed definitely appears to be a factor because of the impact."
Smith has been charged with DWAI Drugs. Authorities said he was high on prescription drugs and speeding at the time of the incident.
The crew of young adults was returning from a trip to the Six Flags Great Adventure Theme Park in New Jersey when they crashed, Suffolk County Police said.
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