Man Sentenced For Long Beach DWI Crash That Cost Man His Leg: DA

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — A Bellmore man was sentenced Monday to four to 12 years in prison for a drunken crash that caused "life-altering" injuries to another man in Long Beach in July 2021, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced.

Robert O’Brien, 29, pleaded guilty on Dec. 11, 2023, to aggravated vehicular assault, driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of an accident with serious physical injury, and second-degree assault. The DA recommended a sentence of 6 to 15 years in prison.

"A Long Beach retiree was looking forward to meeting his first grandchild in July 2021, but instead of traveling to Florida to witness the child's birth, he laid comatose in a hospital bed because of this defendant's reckless, intoxicated driving," Donnelly said. "Though he recovered after months of treatment, the victim's right leg was amputated, and his dreams of being an active grandfather were destroyed. All because this defendant spent his day drinking at a local bar and then decided to drive."

On July 16, 2021, around 7:58 p.m., O'Brien was driving a 2011 Chrysler 300 with two passengers after a day of drinking at several bars, Donnelly said.

O'Brien side-swiped a vehicle that was stopped at a red light at the intersection of East Park Avenue and Neptune Boulevard and continued driving, running a red light, striking another vehicle, and losing control of his car a short distance away, investigators said.

O'Brien then struck a tree, a pole, several other parked vehicles, and a 70-year-old pedestrian in front of a deli on East Park Avenue who was picking up dinner for his family, prosecutors said.

The man suffered serious physical injuries, which left him in a medically induced coma for more than two months, officials said. He then had to undergo several surgeries, including the amputation of his right leg, authorities said.

O’Brien surrendered to the Long Beach Police Department on July 18, 2021.

"We are rapidly approaching summer on Long Island – some of the deadliest days on our roadways," Donnelly said. "We urge all drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians to use caution and common sense."

O’Brien was represented by Marc Gann. Gann did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.