Willie Singleton was killed in a multi-vehicle crash near Sunrise Highway and Unqua Road in Massapequa on Saturday, April 19.

By Michael Mashburn From Daily Voice

A 19-year-old man and his father have been indicted after a drunk driving crash on Sunrise Highway left a Long Island man dead and his wife seriously injured, prosecutors said.

Brian August, of Bay Shore, was arraigned in Nassau County Court Tuesday, Oct. 22, on a 13-count indictment stemming from an April crash in Massapequa that killed 48-year-old Willie Singleton and injured his wife.

Investigators determined that August had tossed back “multiple shots” of vodka inside his father’s Bentley before getting behind the wheel the night of Saturday, April 19, according to the Nassau County DA’s office.

“Some of those shots, unbelievably, were allegedly poured and served to him by his own father,” said District Attorney Anne Donnelly.

At around 9 p.m., August attempted to turn across traffic from a left-turn lane at Sunrise Highway and Unqua Road and struck Singleton’s Polaris Slingshot three-wheeled motorcycle.

Singleton was thrown from the vehicle and later pronounced dead at Good Samaritan Hospital, as Daily Voice reported. His wife suffered severe injuries requiring surgery and continues to need mobility assistance.

A blood test taken about four hours after the crash showed August’s blood alcohol level was 0.20 percent, more than twice the legal limit, prosecutors said. Investigators recovered both a large vodka bottle and several empty “nips” of liquor from the vehicle.

“Now, Willie’s wife, also seriously injured in the crash, is forced to recover from this horrific and senseless act without the support of the man she loved,” Donnelly said. “Our thoughts are with her as we prosecute this case and bring this defendant to justice for the pain and loss his alleged reckless actions have caused.”

August was arrested the night of the crash by Nassau County Police. His father, 42-year-old Brian Kitchen, was arrested Tuesday, Oct. 22.

August pleaded not guilty to multiple homicide, manslaughter, assault, and DWI charges. His bond was set at $1.25 million bond. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.

Kitchen also pleaded not guilty to reckless endangerment charges. He was released on his own recognizance and faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.