Teens, aged 14, killed in Long Island car crash by drunk driver were celebrating tennis win before accident
LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK: The lives of two 14-year-old boys, Drew Hassenbein and Ethan Falkowitz, were tragically cut short when drunk driver, Amandeep Singh, crashed his Dodge Ram into their Alfa Romeo car on a Long Island expressway where he was traveling the wrong way. The incident occurred near Jericho, resulting in the immediate death of Drew and Ethan, while the other two boys in the car, aged 16 and 17, suffered internal injuries but are now in stable condition.
Drew and Ethan were both talented tennis players who had been celebrating a victory in a competition just before the accident. Drew was nationally ranked and played on his high school's varsity team at a young age, while Ethan was also a varsity team standout.
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'They both had such bright futures'
"Ethan was an easy going, happy kid that only saw the good in people and was liked by everyone he came in contact with. He was loving, caring, compassionate and did not have a bad bone in his body. He was the ultimate team player who was hard working and very skilled. Drew was one of the fiercest competitors and someone that was so focused and motivated on achieving his goals. He was a kind soul that was admired and respected by everyone that came in contact with him," wrote their sports team on Facebook. "They both had such bright futures and so much to look ahead to. May their memories be blessings to their families and friends."
'Ethan was loved by everyone'
"Everyone who ever came in contact with Ethan knew him as a kid who warmed up every room he entered with his smile and amazing personality. He was kind and thoughtful and a camper who was loved by everyone at Tyler Hill. Ethan lit up our tennis courts, our stage and everywhere else in camp he set foot. He was an incredible son, brother, cousin, friend, bunkmate and more," wrote Ethan's tennis team on Facebook.
'Drew was a great kid'
Drew's tennis camp team wrote a post about him, saying, "Those of us who knew Drew saw in him great promise, not only due to his exceptional talents in tennis, where he was a nationally ranked player, but as a kind, thoughtful and much admired friend to so many. Simply, Drew was a great kid from a great and loving family whose bright, promising future was cut short by such a senseless tragedy."
'It was almost like the car exploded'
Capt. Stephen Fitzpatrick, commanding officer of the Nassau homicide squad said, "It was probably one of the most catastrophic scenes I have seen in a long time. If you had been there, you would have seen the debris field, it was almost like the car exploded." According to Fitzpatrick, Amandeep Singh was so intoxicated, with a blood alcohol level of double the legal driving limit, that he believed he was in New Jersey when questioned by detectives from Long Island. "He asked the officers, 'what are you doing here? It's New Jersey.'"
Amandeep Singh was charged with several offenses
Singh was charged with several offenses, including aggravated vehicular homicide, first-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter, leaving the scene of an auto accident with a fatality, driving while intoxicated, and two counts of second-degree assault, as per the NY Post.
# BREAKING 34-year-old alleged drunk driver Amandeep Singh, on his way to court after he killed two 14-year-old boys from Roslyn in a head on collision in Jericho last night. Stay with @ABC7NY pic.twitter.com/b0iulVlISw
— Stacey Sager (@staceysager7) May 4, 2023