4 To 12 Years For Man Who Huffed Keyboard Cleaner, Caused Deadly L.I. Crash

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island man was sentenced in a Riverhead courtroom Friday, after being convicted of driving high on keyboard cleaner and killing a woman in Commack.

As WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported, there did not appear to be a dry eye in the courtroom as family members of Herta Palma, 63, talked about how she was a loving mother, grandmother and friend. Thy said their hearts were empty now that she is gone.

Listen to 4 To 12 Years For Man Who Huffed Keyboard Cleaner, Caused Deadly L.I. Crash

James Murphy, 20, admitted that on New Year's Eve 2013, he inhaled a can of dust-off keyboard cleaner before getting behind the wheel of his sport-utility vehicle.

He ran a red light and slammed into Palma's car – killing her instantly.

Murphy was sentenced to 4 to 12 years in prison Friday.

Palma's son, James, said laws need to be tougher to include inhalants such as dust-off as part of the driving while intoxicated law.

Joseph Palma, the son of Herta Palma, who was killed by a driver high on keyboard cleaner on Long Island on New Year's Eve 2013. (Credit: Sophia Hall/WCBS 880)

"It's not enough," James Palma said. "Unfortunately there's a loop hole in the system that we need to correct."

Another member said on Facebook that Murphy bragged about how his family encouraged him to get high. The judge called that disturbing and sad.