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The Newbury Park High School community was stunned today by the news that a popular school athlete was killed and four other students were injured when the car they were driving in rolled over on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu the night before.
Cody James Murphy, 17, was a charismatic young man who was looking forward to his senior year on Newbury Park's varsity football squad, and his death sent shock waves through the school, friends and school officials said.
"It's like losing part of your family," said Head Football Coach George Hurley. "People are just kind of stunned." Murphy was killed when the car he was driving rolled over on Pacific Coast Highway near Encinal Canyon Road in Malibu late Tuesday night, authorities said.
He was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:05 p.m., said Capt. Ed Winter, assistant chief of the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.
The one girl in the car, a Camarillo resident, was airlifted to UCLA Medical Center from the scene in critical condition with severe head trauma. Two boys had broken hips and were transported to the UCLA Medical Center By ambulance. Another boy was released to his parents at the scene.
The teens were coming home from a concert in Hollywood when their car crashed, said Sgt. Philip Brooks with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department's Lost Hills Station.
Police declined to release the names or ages of the students because they are minors.
The boy who was least injured told police he and his friends had been drinking near Santa Monica Pier before the crash, Brooks said.
Police found an empty Jagermeister liqueur bottle, a marijuana pipe, and an empty canister from a medical marijuana dispensary in the car, Brooks said.
"Alcohol and marijuana appear to be a factor causing the collision," said Lt. Scott Chew with the Lost Hills Station.
After the crash, the boy who was least injured pulled two of his friends from the car, he wrote in a statement to police.
Lanes of PCH were closed for about 10 hours following the crash.
News of the fatal crash spread quickly.
Jim McGlashen, who knew Murphy for most of the young man's life, said he heard about the accident about 11 p.m. Tuesday.
An uncle of one of the other boys in the accident called McGlashen, who coached Murphy in little league football, and McClashen drove Murphy's parents to the scene of the accident.
Murphy was a close friend of McGlashen's son, Ryan. Friends since first grade, the two boys played together on Newbury Park's football team, McGlashen said.
"It's such a tragedy," he said. "He was a good kid." Murphy was a running back and defensive back on the Newbury Park High varsity football team. Last season he carried the ball 19 times for 55 yards.
He also ran track, surfed, snowboarded and played guitar, McGlashen said.
"Everybody loved Cody," said McGlashen's wife, Terri. "He brightened the room."
Posted by omie on April 9, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Alcohol and marijuana appear to be a factor causing the collision," That explains a lot..
Posted by rollingcode on April 9, 2008 at 6:30 p.m.
(This thread was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by danfuga on April 9, 2008 at 6:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is hard to feel sorry for those who perish from making really, really bad decisions. Having said that, these kids were young and the loss of their lives is sad and tragic.
Posted by cameronincam on April 9, 2008 at 6:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hate to see this year after year and it's so tragic.
I'm not sure what the solution is.... later driving age? 18? Better drug education?
At some point the insanity needs to stop. There were too many factors here: age, driving experience, alcohol and drugs. (Confirmed by one of the victims)
I'm sure the his family and friends are heartbroken and I feel for them.
All I can hope for is that other students learn from this senseless tragedy.
Posted by macdaddycrabby on April 9, 2008 at 7:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
He who has not sined may cast the first stone. Its just sad that these young adults are injured for life. Bad choice or not.
Posted by baitsoaker on April 9, 2008 at 7:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It has nothing to do with casting the first stone. It is a simple statement of fact. A seventeen year old juvenile with not even two years of driving experience decides to drink hard alcohol, smoke marijuana then drive the PCH at night! What good could have come of that. I would ask the parents why their kid was out on a school night going to a concert drunk and high on weed!!! And medical marijuana??? Right, I'm sure they went to a local dispensary and were prescribed marijuana due to "stress" just like everybody else does.
I'm not saying this isn't tragic, it ABSOLUTELY is! But these kids made their choices in life. Driving drunk and high at night with no experience behind the wheel could only end in one way. Sad.
Posted by ostentacious on April 9, 2008 at 7:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with baitsoaker.
Tragic? Definitely.
Their own decision to take that gamble with their lifes? Definitely.
My prayers go out to everyone hurt by this tragedy.
Posted by macdaddycrabby on April 9, 2008 at 7:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
baitsoaker
Facts, I'm sorry, I didn't know that you were a member of CSI and you have already got the results for his blood test, and congratulations on your promotion to inspector for the CHP so you could read the complete and final accident report of the accident. Every thing from the article is an assumption by the star, I was just saying that everybody should stop being so high and mighty and understand the 6 young adults are injured for life.
Its just sad.
Posted by Tracey on April 9, 2008 at 8 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My heart aches for the families of such a horrific tragedy. My son a Sophomore at Newbury Park now of driving age I cannot tell him enough the dangers of alcohol and drug related accidents, and no matter what time or where he or his friends may be I will be there to pick them up no questions asked. I cannot imagine the pain and suffering of such a loss.
Posted by tellthetruth on April 9, 2008 at 8:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's sad how a kid who does drugs and alcohol is called a "good kid." My how our standards have changed. Hopefully other kids will learn from this tragedy.
Posted by cameronincam on April 9, 2008 at 8:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
MacDaddyCrabby...
This was not an "assumption" by the star:
"The boy who was least injured told police he and his friends had been drinking near Santa Monica Pier before the crash, Brooks said."
Yes, they have been "injured for life", but as much as I dislike the blame game... if there has to be blame it is on the driver and EVERY occupant of the vehicle. His drinking (and likely theirs) was no secret to all in that car. It's all about choices and the rest of the people in that car made a terrible choice to drive in it.
It's a tragedy that they brought this on themselves but hopefully others will learn from this.
Let me share this with you,
I have a neighbor that was in a similar situation. She is 16 and her friends went to the movies and started drinking on the way home. You know what she did? She had them stop the car, she got out of the car and called her mother @ 10:30pm. (her curfew on the weekends is 11) her mother got out of bed, went and picked her up and thanked her for using good judgment. She never lectured her on what happened and never told her to ditch those friends, but the girl found other friends on her own, friends that did not endanger her life.
When her mother told me that story, she was beaming with pride and she has no reservations on buying her daughter a car for her upcoming birthday.
Posted by OFD_Wife on April 9, 2008 at 8:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When I was in High School, I was usually the "DD", which normally qualified as the least drunk. At 18 I received a DUI, thank GOD. I say that because not a week goes by that I don't thank god that I was pulled off the street before I killed someone or myself. VCfromMD, in his rant, had a point however completely lost his audience due to his inability to feel compassion. Most teens DO NOT have the ability to comprehend immortality or the lack there of. I considered myself, and still do consider myself...bright. I did not make the brightest decisions and to my benefit it never cost me dearly. I have two teens, scratch that one has made it into is 20's...one more to go. I pray that she makes the right decisions. That's all I can do. I've done my job to the best of my ability. God Bless all involved. We are all just human.
Tellthetruth...there are alot of adults who smoke and drink that are good people...JUDGEMENTAL.
Posted by JumpinJack on April 9, 2008 at 8:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The CHP is not involved, it is an LA County sheriff's case.
And they said they believe he was drunk, that his friends said he was drunk, and are awaiting toxicological results to confirm that evidence.
The Star is not assuming anything other than the fact that the deputies are accurate.
It's not right to blame the messenger for bad news.
Posted by macdaddycrabby on April 9, 2008 at 8:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hmmmm
Lets go over the facts.... Did 1 person die? Yup. Dose 1 have head trauma? Yup. Were 4 others injured? Yup. Was the Subaru OVERLOADED with 6 full size humans? Yup. OK, we are good so far. Was the driver a designated driver? Don't know. Was he drunk? Don't know. Was he stoned? Don't know. Was he cut off by an LA driver? Don't know. Did the driver lose control (watch the tv news, they show that the car had just rounded a curve) of the car? Don't know. Do I know any of these people? No. Were any of us there? No. Well now that's straight, none of us knows what happened. This is just sad. So all the readers, can you do me a favor? Go outside, count how many hands is your horse tall. I would like to know how high your horse is.
Posted by keepin_it_real on April 9, 2008 at 8:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
cameronicam-yes, one of the boys did admitt there was drinking and drugs involved. I love your story about your neighbor, very inspirational. Good for that young lady!!!
These kids did make their own choices and they were the wrong choices, let not for get the terrible tragety this was. How aweful for the boys parents who was killed who lost their son and must also be devistated with the injuries of the other kids. I hope and pray the young lady makes it. Looks like the others will be ok. Keep in mind, this could be anybodys kids. Even though they are good kids. Sometimes they think they are indestructable, i.e. stuff happens but it won't happen to me. We all have been there. Not just refering to drinking and drugs but to anything.
Even though this is a terrible judgement by these young people lets try to show some empathy. Everyone knows they made the wrong choices and hopefully others will learn by their mistakes.
God Bless them all....
Posted by BeaHappi on April 9, 2008 at 8:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
keepin_it_real...well said.
Let's just do what we can to keep other kids safe. No judgements are needed here. As humans and (for some of us) as parents, we need to hug our kids and thank God that they are safe. And then say a prayer for those who are suffering from this tragedy.
RIP Cody...
Posted by jentastic1988 on April 9, 2008 at 9:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I feel sorry for everyone involved but u got to know if u drink and drive something bad is going to happen!
Posted by mandynathan on April 10, 2008 at 1:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you to all of those self-righteous folks who are stating the obvious. No one is arguing FOR drinking and driving. This is little more than idle gossip, in writing and in public. Cluck cluck. How about showing a little respect for a grieving community??? The next time you're feeling really high and mighty, try walking on water.
Posted by ostentacious on April 10, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Can I just say, it would be fantastic if the press would have a little bit of respect for grieving students.
I'm a sophomore at NPHS, and some fairly disruptive reporters crashed a candle vigil that students held for Cody last night.
I wasn't there, but I heard tons and tons of stories about it today in class.
Posted by turtle2x2 on April 15, 2008 at 11:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Every generation has had this problem. I am currently 50 and when I was that same age, some drunk guy ran into a group of friends from my high school, killing one, permanent brain damage another, and physical injuries to several more. The week after graduation I was going to my friend's funeral. My brother's class (the year before mine), one of his friend's got drunk and wrapped her car around a street light pole (she didn't survive). I could go on and on. These kids took a chance making the wrong choices and now have to pay the consequences. Very sad and my heart goes out to their families. We could make tougher rules but I am not sure it would work. As teens, we feel immortal. As parents, the best we can do is try to keep our kids in reality.
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