59 year old Edward Murphy of Albany plead guilty Monday in Columbia County Court. He was charged last July for the crash that sent two Catskill women to Albany Med. The July 7th accident closed the Rip Van Winkle Bridge for several hours. Sentencing for Murphy will not take place until he completes a drug treatment program.
Original press release:
Greenport, New York - 59-Year-old Edward Murphy of Albany, New York, was charged with Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, an Unclassified Misdemeanor, and Vehicular Assault in the 1st Degree, a Class D Felony. On August 8, 2016, Murphy was arraigned in the Town of Greenport Justice Court and released on his own recognizance. Murphy is schedule to appear in the Town of Greenport Court on September 12, 2016 at 3:30 p.m.
Greenport, New York – On July 7, 2016 at approximately 8:00 PM, New York State Police from the Livingston Barracks were dispatched to investigate a 2-car personal injury auto collision that occurred on the Rip Van Winkle Bridge (State Route 23) in the Town of Greenport.A preliminary investigation revealed that a red 2013 Chevrolet sedan being operated by 59-year-old Edward Murphy of Albany, NY, was operating erratically as he traveled eastbound across the bridge. Murphy drove his vehicle across the double yellow lines and into the westbound lane where he struck a 2003 Ford Focus head-on.The female operator of the Ford Focus was transported via helicopter to Albany Medical Center, while the passenger of the Ford Focus was transported via ambulance, also to Albany Medical Center. Both sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries.Murphy was first transported to Columbia Memorial Hospital and then to Albany Medical Center, also with non-life threatening injuries.The State Police were assisted at the scene by the Greenport Fire Department, Greenport Police Department, Catskill Police Department, NYS Bridge Authority, and the Greenport Rescue Squad.