Driver Who Killed Couple After Blowing Stop Sign Arraigned: DA

MASTIC BEACH, NY — A man charged in killing a Long Island couple after he blew through a stop sign, slammed into their car, and fled the scene right before Christmas was arraigned on a 12-count indictment Monday— and new details revealed that he was speeding 68 miles an hour in a 30-mile an hour zone, with an open beer in his hand, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini.

The indictment was unsealed Monday in connection with the fatal crash that took place on Dec. 22; Patrick Poillon, 24, of Darien, CT, was arraigned on the indictment in front of Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho.

Poillon, represented by defense attorney Katherine Fernandez, pleaded not guilty, according to court records.

“The defendant was allegedly driving more than twice the legal speed limit and blowing through stop signs in a residential neighborhood at the time of this horrific crash,” Sini said. “Because of his reckless actions, a husband and wife were killed just days before Christmas.”

At 10:11 p.m. on Dec. 22, 2018, Poillon was driving a 2006 Ford Explorer southbound on Huguenot Drive in Mastic Beach when he drove through a stop sign and struck a 2004 Subaru Legacy traveling eastbound on Forest Road West; Poillon allegedly fled the scene of the crash on foot, leaving the Explorer and a passenger at the scene, Sini said.

Molnar, 50, had the right-of-way as there is a stop sign on Huguenot Drive at the intersection.

The two passengers in the Subaru, William Molnar, 50, and Jean Molnar, 41, both of Mastic Beach, were pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner.

A 22-year-old male passenger in the front seat of the Explorer was transported by Suffolk County Police helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of physical injuries.

Following an investigation by Suffolk County Police Major Case Unit detectives, Poillon was arrested at a relative’s residence in Mastic Beach at 3:37 a.m. on Dec. 23, 2018, police said.

Poillon was driving 68 miles per hour at the time of the crash, which occurred in a 30 mile per hour speed zone; surveillance video also shows Poillon holding a “Natty Daddy,” which is a 25-ounce can of Natural Light beer, while driving, Sini said.

Poillon, of Mastic Beach, was initially charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and was held at the Seventh Precinct, police said.

On Monday, he was indicted by a grand jury on charges including two counts of second degree manslaughter, a felony; two counts of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, a felony; tampering with physical evidence, a felony; second degree reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor; third degree assault, a misdemeanor; reckless driving, a misdemeanor; leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, a misdemeanor; third degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, a misdemeanor; and speeding and failure to stop at a stop sign, both traffic infractions,Sini said.

Bail was set at $1 million cash or $5 million bond and his license was suspended; he is due back in court on Feb. 4, Sini said.

If convicted of the top count, Poillon faces a maximum sentence of five to 15 years in prison, Sini said.

Poillon also has criminal charges pending in Brattleboro, VT, from an incident that occurred in Aug., 2016 in which Poillon and a co-defendant allegedly assaulted a man in a supermarket and stole alcohol from him, Sini said. The charges also include "a hate-motivated aggravated disorderly conduct charge for allegedly attacking an African-American woman during the incident and calling her a racial slur," Sini said.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jacob DeLauter and Maggie Bopp, of the Vehicular Crime Bureau.

Poillon was arrested in June 2017 on charges of driving with a suspended license and criminal trespass, according to court records.

Fernandez could not immediately be reached for comment.

SCPD photo of Patrick Poillon

Photos/video by Fully Involved Media Group LLC.