Levittown Man Pleads Guilty in Fatal Drunken Crash

A Levittown man pleaded guilty Monday in a drunken crash on the Northern State Parkway in July that killed his passenger, according to the Nassau County District Attorney’s office.

Brian Friedrichs, 23, of Levittown, pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and driving while intoxicated before Judge Alan Honorof, the DA said.

Honorof committed to a sentence of up to 12 years in prison, the DA said. He is due to be sentenced May 18.

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Friedrichs was drunk at the wheel on the Northern State Parkway on July 22 when he lost control of his car near Post Avenue, officials said. The gray Mazda, which was traveling west at more than 120 mph, flipped several times and struck a wall on the shoulder, the DA said.

Friedrichs’ passenger, Christopher Gallina, 23, also of Levittown, was ejected from the car and may have been struck by another vehicle, New York State Police said at the time. Gallina was rushed to Winthrop University Hospital but was pronounced dead a short time later, cops said.

Friedrichs had a blood alcohol content of .14 after the crash, cops said.

“This defendant’s reckless actions resulted in the senseless death of his passenger, Christopher Gallina. And...it is a miracle that many more lives were not lost,” Acting DA Madeline Singas said in a statement. “It reminds us how dangerous ‘first time’ DWI offenders can be and demonstrates why Aggravated Vehicular Homicide should be expanded to include grossly reckless drivers like Mr. Friedrichs.”

The crash may pave the way for new laws that would increase the penalty for fatal DWI crashes, according to the DA. In the coming weeks, Singas plans to introduce legislation that would add a subsection to the aggravated vehicular homicide law and make it a B felony.

Photo: Brian Friedrichs. Credit: NYS Police

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