Indian American drunk driver gets upto 25 years jail for wrong-way crash

Amandeep Singh pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular manslaughter in the deaths of two teenage tennis prodigies

By Arun Kumar

Amandeep Singh, an Indian American construction executive accused of killing two teenage tennis prodigies in a wrong-way, drunk-driving crash in Nassau County, New York, in 2023, has been sentenced to 8⅓ to 25 years in prison.

Singh, 36, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular manslaughter and other charges in the deaths of Ethan Falkowitz and Drew Hassenbein, both 14, two Roslyn middle schoolers good enough to start on the varsity high school team.

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Singh appeared stonefaced and barely acknowledged the victims’ family members as he entered the courtroom Feb. 7 in Mineola, NY, CBS reported. Nine family members delivered victim impact statements, many speaking out about how inadequate the sentence is for the two deaths.

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.

Nassau County District Attorney 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.

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 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.

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,” 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.