Father Accused Of Giving Teen Vodka Before Fatal Massapequa DWI Crash: DA

MASSAPEQUA, NY — A Bay Shore father and son pleaded guilty on July 9 to charges related to a DWI crash on Sunrise Highway in Massapequa that killed a 48-year-old man, the Nassau County District Attorney's Office said.

Brian August, 20, pleaded guilty before Judge Terence P. Murphy to aggravated vehicular homicide, a B felony, second-degree manslaughter, a C felony, second-degree assault, a D violent felony, and aggravated driving while intoxicated per se, an unclassified misdemeanor, the DA's office said.

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August is due back in court on Sep. 24, and is expected to be sentenced to four-and-a-half to 12 years in prison, the DA's office said. Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly recommended a sentence of seven to 15 years in prison.

August's father, 43-year-old Brian Kitchen, pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless endangerment, a D felony, after he was accused of giving his son alcohol in the car before the crash, the DA's office said. Kitchen is due back in court on Sep. 24, and is expected to be sentenced to one year in prison, the DA's office said.

"Now both father and son will be heading to jail for their selfish and reckless choices as Willie's wife, also seriously injured in the crash, continues to suffer the pain of losing her husband in one sudden, horrific moment," DA Donnelly said.

On April 19, 2025, at about 9:03 p.m., August, who was 19 years old at the time, was driving a 2023 Bentley eastbound on Sunrise Highway in Massapequa when he struck 48-year-old Willie Singleton's 3-wheeled Polaris Slingshot, Donnelly said.

August was stopped at a red light in the left-turning lane of Sunrise Highway and Unqua Road, the DA said. He then abruptly turned right across all eastbound lanes of traffic, crashing into the Polaris that was traveling in the eastbound lanes, the DA said. The Polaris was driven by Singleton, with his wife as a passenger, according to the DA.

DA Donnelly said Singleton was ejected out of the three-wheeled motorcycle into another car at a red light near Unqua Road, and was then transported to Good Samaritan Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 9:46 p.m., the DA said.

Singleton's wife suffered "significant" injuries to her hips and legs, the DA said. She had to receive emergency surgery, which included getting a rod implanted into her leg, DA Donnelly said. Since the crash, she uses a wheelchair or walker frequently, the DA said.

When blood was drawn from August four hours after the crash, it revealed that his blood alcohol content was at .20 percent, more than two times the legal limit, the DA's office said. Upon investigation, it was determined that August had drunk numerous shots of vodka inside the car before the crash, and that August's father gave him some of the liquor, the DA's office said.

According to the DA's office, a 1.75 mL bottle of vodka and many other empty 50 mL bottles of vodka were found in the Bentley.

"As a parent, it is inconceivable to me that a father could be so reckless and careless as to pour and serve his underage, teenage son shots of liquor while driving," DA Donnelly said. "Make no mistake, Brian August made the decision to drive drunk and was behind the wheel when he struck and killed Willie Singleton, but his father, Brian Kitchen, also failed his son and the Singletons that night."

Brian August was initially arrested on April 19, 2025, by the Nassau County Police Department, and his father, Brian Kitchen, was arrested on October 22, 2025, the DA's office said.

Neither August nor Kitchen's attorneys were immediately available for comment when Patch reached out.

August is represented by Jeffrey Cohen, Esq. Kitchen is represented by Marc Gann, Esq., the DA's office said.