Police: 2 teens killed in wrong-way Jericho crash; driver facing DWI charges

Drew Hassenbein and Ethan Falkowitz were Roslyn Middle School students, best friends and nationally ranked tennis players.

May 4, 2023, 9:28 AM

Updated 562 days ago

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Nassau police say a drunk driver is facing a number of charges Thursday in a Jericho wrong-way crash that killed two 14-year-old boys.
Nassau police say the multivehicle crash had shut down Route 106 in Jericho for hours. They say the accident happened just before 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Detectives say Amandeep Singh, 34, was driving a Dodge Ram southbound in the northbound lanes and collided with a 2019 Alfa Romeo with four teenagers inside. The two 14-year-olds - identified as Drew Hassenbein and Ethan Falkowitz - were pronounced dead at the scene.
Hassenbein and Falkowitz were Roslyn Middle School students, best friends and nationally ranked tennis players. The boys had just finished a victory dinner after beating the Syosset High School tennis team in a match.
"Our community is devastated with the loss of these two beautiful children," said Roslyn School Board President Meryl Waxman Ben-Levy.
The other teens, ages 16 and 17, were taken to the hospital for internal injuries but are listed in stable condition.
After the initial collision, police say the Alfa Romeo struck a 2023 Volvo occupied by a 49-year-old woman and a 16-year-old passenger. They were treated for minor injuries.
Singh, of Roslyn, suffered minor injuries. He was arraigned Thursday afternoon and is charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter, manslaughter, leaving the scene of an auto accident with a fatality, DWI and two counts of assault.
Prosecutors say Singh's blood alcohol level was .18. Police say Singh fled the scene before he was caught as witnesses tried to render aid to the teens.
Hundreds of people from the Roslyn community came to First District Court in Hempstead to show solidarity for the teens that were killed and face the man accused of killing them by drinking and driving.
"What happened was incomprehensible," says Kristina Segura, of Roslyn. "Someone made a decision to get behind the wheel drinking, and these kids had no warning and they were hit head-on."
Route 106 has reopened in both directions between Columbia and Manhattan drives.
Singh was held without bail and is due back in court on May 8.