Outrage, emotion in court as Amandeep Singh is sentenced in Long Island wrong-way crash that killed 2 teens
MINEOLA, N.Y. -- A Long Island man convicted of killing two teens in a 2023 wrong-way crash was sentenced Friday.
Amandeep Singh was sentenced to eight-and-a-third to 25 years in prison for the deaths of 14-year-old Ethan Falkowitz and Drew Hassenbein in the drunk driving crash in Nassau County.
The 36-year-old appeared stonefaced and barely acknowledged the victims' family members as he entered the courtroom Friday in Mineola. Nine family members delivered victim impact statements, many speaking out about how inadequate the sentence is for the two deaths.
Two overflow courtrooms were needed for the crowds as Singh was sentenced for a crime the judge said touched the community like no other. North Shore neighbors, friends and classmates packed inside for the emotional sentencing. They could be could be heard crying and sobbing as they held one another in their overwhelming grief.
"You destroyed my family"
Gary Falkowitz, Ethan's father, spoke after the sentencing.
"This was avoidable. The state failed my son," he said. "Nothing in life prepares you for losing a child. Ethan was filled with hope and optimism. He was every parent's dream."
"My son was one of one. He was so super special. So talented. The light of our family," Mitch Hassenbein, Drew's father, said. "What this man committed is beyond unthinkable, and he gets 25 years if we are lucky? He gave my son a death sentence, and all of us a life sentence."
The boys' mothers, through their tears, spoke of lives ruined, families shattered, futures erased and endless grief.
"Your lack of remorse is utterly disgusting. I hate you. You destroyed my family. I was robbed of all of life's joys," Jamie Hassenbein said.
Drew's 85-year-old grandfather shouted at Singh.
"Why didn't you go home, you turkey. You're a bad, bad guy. You're now sorry after you killed wo beautiful boys?" he said.
Singh spoke in court for the first time, calling his actions the epitome of stupidity and selfishness.
"This was all my fault. Losing a child is the greatest grief. I have committed the great sin. If anyone should have died, it should have been me," he said.
"He can't even muster the strength to look at them, his eyes were down and he was crying," defense attorney James Kousouros said.
"He feels broken. He feels horrible," defense attorney Edward Sapone said.
"The family does have a lot of regret and remorse. As you heard from Amandeep, that is something that can't be undone," cousin Nat Preet Singh said.
DA Anne Donnelly said the penalties in cases like this one, which involves multiple deaths, are unacceptable.
"Had this already unspeakable tragedy claimed all four of the boys' lives, the defendant would be exactly where he is right now, facing just one sentence of eight-and-a-third to 25," Donnelly said.
Zachary Sheena, the teen driver Singh crashed into, says he will fight like hell to change laws.
The families of both victims vowed to be at every parole hearing to ensure SIngh serves no less than 25 years.
Tennis stars Ethan Falkowitz and Drew Hassenbein killed in Jericho crash
In May 2023, 14-year-old Falkowitz and Hassenbein were on their way home from a tennis tournament victory dinner on North Broadway in Jericho when police say Singh, a 36-year-old construction executive, drove his pickup truck the wrong way at 95 mph in a 40 mph zone and struck the boys' car, killing the two middle schoolers and injuring two other teens. Authorities said Singh was under the influence of whiskey, tequila and cocaine at the time.
The boys' talents at tennis soared well beyond their years. Hassenbein had been ranked number one in the country for boys under 12, and Falkowitz made the high school team as a starter in eighth grade.
Singh changed his plea
Singh initially pleaded not guilty to a 15-count indictment on aggravated vehicular homicide, leaving the scene and driving drunk and impaired charges.
Police body camera video appeared to show him trying to flee and hide behind a dumpster, and then lying to police.
"He was disoriented, his speech was slurred," Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said last month. "He was adamant he was not involved in the crash."
Singh later changed his plea to guilty in early January.
"Amandeep Singh accepted full responsibility for what happened on that tragic night. He will live with it for the rest of his life. Irrespective of the punishment the justice system gives him, he will feel his own punishment forever," defense attorney James Kousouros said at the time.
The district attorney said there was no plea deal and there would be no reduced sentence.
