Bay Shore teen indicted in Sunrise Highway crash that killed 48-year-old rider and left his wife severely injured
Mineola, N.Y. – A 19-year-old Bay Shore driver faces a 13-count indictment after prosecutors say he drove drunk onto Sunrise Highway, crossed lanes and slammed into a Polaris Slingshot on an April night, killing the passenger and leaving the driver’s wife with life-altering injuries.
Prosecutors say the crash occurred at about 9:03 p.m. on April 19 when the defendant, driving a 2023 Bentley, was stopped in a left-turn lane at Sunrise Highway and Unqua Road, then abruptly turned right across eastbound lanes and struck the Slingshot traveling straight through the intersection. The Slingshot’s passenger, 48-year-old Willie Singleton, was ejected into a car stopped nearby and was pronounced dead at Good Samaritan Hospital. The Slingshot driver’s wife suffered catastrophic hip and leg injuries that required emergency surgery, a metal rod implant, and ongoing mobility aid.
Nassau County grand jurors returned a 13-count indictment that includes two counts of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, Vehicular Manslaughter in the First and Second Degrees, Manslaughter in the Second Degree, two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, Aggravated Vehicular Assault, Vehicular Assault in the First and Second Degrees, Aggravated DWI, DWI, and Reckless Driving. The defendant, Brian August, pleaded not guilty at arraignment and faces bail set at $500,000 cash, $1.25 million bond, or $2 million partially secured bond as prosecutors urged remand. If convicted on the most serious counts he faces a potential sentence of 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison. His next court date is Dec. 2.
Investigators recovered a 1.75 mL bottle of vodka and numerous empty 50 mL vodka bottles inside the Bentley. Blood drawn from the defendant about four hours after the crash registered a blood alcohol content of .20 percent, more than twice the legal limit. Prosecutors allege the defendant consumed multiple shots inside the vehicle in the hours leading up to the collision. The defendant’s father, Brian Kitchen, 42, was also charged after authorities say he served liquor to his son before the crash; Kitchen was arraigned on reckless endangerment counts, pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. If convicted, Kitchen faces up to 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison.
The crash prompted a swift criminal investigation by the Nassau County Police Department and charges were filed by the Vehicular Crimes Bureau. The case will be prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Russell and Deputy Bureau Chief Alexander DePalo under the supervision of Bureau Chief Michael Bushwack and the Litigation Division’s executive assistant. Both defendants were represented at arraignment by Jeffrey Cohen, Esq.
Prosecutors say the human toll of the crash extends beyond the loss of life, with the surviving victim enduring major surgery and ongoing mobility challenges that have upended family life. The case underscores accusations that reckless, alcohol-fueled driving and alleged adult facilitation of underage drinking had deadly consequences on a Massapequa roadway.
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Key Points
- 19-year-old Brian August indicted on 13 counts including aggravated vehicular homicide after an April 19 crash on Sunrise Highway that killed 48-year-old Willie Singleton
- Blood alcohol content measured at .20 and multiple vodka bottles were recovered from the Bentley investigators say was the defendant’s vehicle
- The defendant’s father, Brian Kitchen, was indicted on reckless endangerment charges for allegedly serving liquor before the crash; both defendants pleaded not guilty
