A Bellmore man was sentenced on June 10 to four to 12 years in prison for an aggravated vehicular assault that caused a Long Beach man to suffer life-altering injuries in July 2021.
Robert O’Brien, 29, pleaded guilty on December 11, 2023, before Judge Teresa Corrigan to Aggravated Vehicular Assault (a C felony); Driving While Intoxicated (an E felony); Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Serious Physical Injury (an E felony); and Assault in the Second Degree (a D violent felony). The defendant was sentenced today to 4 to 12 years in prison. The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office recommended a sentence of 6 to 15 years in prison.
On July 16, 2021, at approximately 7:58 p.m. at E Park Avenue and Neptune Boulevard in Long Beach, Robert O’Brien, driving while intoxicated after a day of drinking at several bars, was driving a 2011 Chrysler 300 with two passengers. He side-swiped a vehicle that was stopped at a red light and continued driving away from the scene, running a red light, striking another vehicle, and losing control of his car a short distance away.
O’Brien then struck a tree, a pole, several other parked vehicles, and a 70-year-old pedestrian in front of a deli on E Park Ave who was picking up dinner for his family.
The pedestrian suffered serious physical injuries which left the man in a medically induced coma for more than two months, and subsequently having to undergo several surgeries, including the amputation of his right leg.
O’Brien surrendered to members of the Long Beach Police Department on July 18, 2021.
“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,” said Nassau County DA Anne Donnelly. “Though he recovered after months of treatment, O’Brien’s 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. We are rapidly approaching summer on Long Island – some of the deadliest days on our roadways. We urge all drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians to use caution and common sense.”