Guilty Plea For 2021 Drunken Crash Where Victim Lost Leg: Prosecutors

MINEOLA, NY — A Bellmore man pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular assault while drunken driving in 2021, causing the victim debilitating physical injuries, prosecutors said.

Robert O'Brien, 28, also pleaded guilty on Monday to driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of an accident with serious physical injury and second-degree assault, the Office of the Nassau County District Attorney announced.

"When Robert O’Brien made the selfish choice to drink and drive, he also changed a Long Beach man’s life and the lives of his family members forever," Donnelly said. "O’Brien’s victim loved to swim at the beach. He loved to play baseball in a local 48 and over league. He was looking forward to being an active new grandfather. But after he was run down by this defendant, the victim spent months in the hospital recovering from his injuries."

On July 16, 2021, at approximately 8 p.m., according to the charges, O'Brien was behind the wheel of a 2011 Chrysler 300 with two passengers at E. Park Avenue and Neptune Boulevard.

O'Brien was intoxicated after a day of drinking at a local bar, Donnelly said. He side-swiped a vehicle that was stopped at a red light, before striking another vehicle, losing control hitting a tree, pole and several parked cars, the DA alleges.

He then struck a 70-year-old pedestrian in front of a deli, where who was picking up dinner for his family. The victim lost his right leg from the collision.

"The defendant’s reckless actions caused this family so much suffering, and now O’Brien is being held accountable for his crimes," Donnelly said.

The defendant is due back in court on March 20, where he is expected to receive a sentence of 4 to 12 years in prison, prosecutors said.