Man pleads guilty in 2023 wrong-way crash that killed 2 middle schoolers in Jericho
JERICHO, Long Island (WABC) -- A man accused of driving the wrong way while drunk and high before crashing into a car, killing two 14-year-old boys, has pleaded guilty in court on Friday.
Amandeep Singh, 36, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide and DWI in connection to the May 2023 crash.
He had turned down similar guilty pleas in the past and had previously pleaded not guilty.
Officials say Singh was driving on the wrong side of Route 106 and collided with an Alfa Romeo with four teens inside. Singh allegedly had a blood-alcohol level of 0.18 -- more than twice the legal limit.
Drew Hassenbein and Ethan Falkowitz, both 14 years old, were killed in the crash. They were both Roslyn Middle School eighth-grade students and tennis stars.
Two other teens in the car were also injured in the crash.
The victims were on the way home from getting food and celebrating following a tennis match victory.
Drew Hassenbein's grandfather Jack Hassenbein was asked what it was like hearing Singh switch his plea to guilty.
"It never brought back my grandson. It never brought him back," he said. "He never said he was sorry, the guy. He's a bad guy."
Singh's attorneys spoke outside of court on Friday, attempting to paint their client in a different light.
"Mr. Singh has been painted out as somebody without remorse and that is the furthest thing from the truth," Singh's attorney James Kousouros said outside of court. "Both he and his family will forever bare the sorrow of this unspeakable tragedy."
Under a plea deal with the Nassau County District Attorney's office, Singh's sentence drops from a maximum of 32 years to 25.
Singh is due back in court on February 7 and is expected to be sentenced to 8-1/3 to 25 years in prison.
"Throughout this prosecution my position was clear. Nothing short of the maximum prison sentence for the top count charged would be enough to hold this defendant accountable for the total devastation he caused the Hassenbein and Falkowitz families and their entire Roslyn community," said Nassau County DA Anne Donnelly. "The evidence of this defendant's guilt was overwhelming and left him with no choice but to finally take responsibility today for the lives he destroyed. Our thoughts continue to be with Drew and Ethan's families, classmates, and friends as this defendant is finally brought to justice."
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