DWAI Driver Strikes Multiple Cars In Centereach, Killing Man: Cops

CENTEREACH, NY — A man was arrested and charged Sunday after police said he was driving a truck while impaired by drugs and crashed into multiple cars, killing a 21-year-old man and leaving injuring two people.

Christopher Guzman, 39, of Farmingville, was driving a 2022 Chevrolet pickup truck westbound on Middle Country Road near Wood Road at about 5 p.m. , when his vehicle struck the side of an eastbound 2011 Toyota Camry, police said.

He continued driving westbound. Only a short distance away, the Chevrolet struck a westbound 2012 Ford Escape, police said.

Guzman and the driver of the Toyota Camry were taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Ford Escape was also taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of serious injuries, police said.

Timothy Carpenter, 21, a passenger in the Ford Escape, was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Guzman was charged with driving while ability impaired by drug, police said. He is scheduled for arraignment at a later date.

The vehicles were impounded for safety checks. Detectives are asking anyone with information on the crash to contact the Major Case Unit at 631-852-6555.

EDIT: A former version of this article stated that Timothy Carpenter was the nephew of Christopher Guzman. That is not correct and has since been edited.