Suspect In Deadly Sayville Crash Case Due Back In Court

The driver who police claim caused a deadly multi-vehicle crash in Sayville in early January is due back in court on April 10.

Thomas Herman, 46, of Patchogue, has been held in Suffolk County Jail on $300,000 bond since he was arrested on January 14 and charged with driving under the influence of drugs and leaving the scene of an accident.

The eight-car crash took the life of West Islip resident Sam Longo, 82, who was pronounced dead at the scene on Main Street. A passenger in Longo’s car, Ann Gilbert, 79, of Oakdale, survived but was severely injured in the crash.

According to police, Herman was driving a Chevrolet Trailblazer westbound on Main Street through Sayville at about 5:10 p.m. on January 13 when he hit five vehicles. Police said Herman did not stop and than struck a westbound Honda Accord and an eastbound Hyundai Elantra, driven by Longo, as he attempted to drive between the two cars. 

Sayville resident Robert Schutt, 49, who was driving the Honda Accord, was treated for minor injuries at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center.