Amandeep Singh, the drunk and drugged driver responsible for the tragic deaths of two 14-year-old boys in a wrong-way crash on Long Island, was sentenced to up to 25 years in prison on Friday.
The Nassau County courtroom was packed with hundreds of grieving family members, friends, and loved ones, many of whom expressed outrage over what they felt was an inadequate punishment for the crime.
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A Night of Tragedy
The crash occurred on May 3, 2023, when Singh, drunk and high on cocaine, drove his 2019 Dodge Ram at 95 mph in the wrong direction on North Broadway, a road with a 40 mph speed limit. He slammed into an Alfa Romeo carrying four teenage boys, killing eighth-graders Ethan Falkowitz and Drew Hassenbein instantly.
The other two passengers, aged 16 and 17, suffered injuries but survived.
Singh’s blood alcohol level was .15, nearly twice the legal limit. Police also found a bottle of tequila in his truck. After the crash, he fled the scene and hid behind a dumpster at a shopping center before being arrested. Prosecutors said he was so intoxicated that he believed he was in New Jersey.
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Families Express Grief and Anger
In emotional victim impact statements, parents of the victims described the unbearable pain of losing their children.
Drew’s father, Mitch Hassenbein, called Singh “the definition of evil,” expressing his anger and devastation over the loss of his son. He described his family’s pain as a life sentence, saying, “Instead of picking up my son at school, I had to identify him at the morgue. It’s inhuman torture.”
Ethan’s mother, Lynn Falkowitz, said Singh had stolen her heart and soul, while Drew’s mother, Jaime Hassenbein, blamed him for destroying her son’s bright future. “You took it all away, I hate you,” she said.
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Survivors Speak Out
One of the surviving teens, Zachary Sheena, who was driving the Alfa Romeo at the time of the crash, spoke about the trauma he now lives with. He called Singh a “selfish coward” who never apologized and only tried to avoid consequences. Sheena, now suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, vowed never to forget his lost friends, calling them “the definition of perfect.”
Singh’s Charges and Sentencing
Singh pleaded guilty to a 15-count indictment in January, which included charges of manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, vehicular homicide, assault, driving while intoxicated, and leaving the scene of an accident.
Despite being sentenced to up to 25 years, many in the courtroom felt it was not enough. Family members and friends of the victims expressed frustration that the sentence could not bring back the two young lives lost in the horrific crash.
As Singh was led away to prison, the courtroom remained filled with sorrow, anger, and a deep sense of injustice, marking the tragic end to a preventable crime that shattered multiple families.
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