Man Sentenced For Woodbury Crash That Permanently Injured Child

A Huntington man was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison for causing a crash that left a 10-year-old girl permanently injured in Woodbury in March 2016, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said.

Eugene Golden, 61, pleaded guilty in August to aggravated vehicular assault, two counts of second-degree assault and aggravated operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

“In a split second this mature businessman irrevocably altered the course of a 10 year old girl’s life by driving head on into her mother’s car while he was extremely drunk and by causing the mother and daughter permanent injuries,” Singas said in a press release. “This family will be impacted by the defendant’s selfish and criminal actions for the rest of their lives. This is the reality of drunk driving.”

On March 8, 2016, Golden was driving a Mercedes-Benz SUV north on Woodbury Road when he crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with a Nissan Versa that was heading south at 9:38 p.m.

The Nissan was driven by a 43-year-old woman who had her 10-year-old daughter in the backseat. The mother suffered multiple fracture ribs, a fractured shoulder, a fractured spine and required the surgical removal of part of her colon. Her daughter suffered from a severe traumatic brain injury and required three brain surgeries.

Golden was transported to a hospital following the crash and was listed in stable condition.

The crash occurred less than half a mile from the restaurant where Golden was excessively drinking, the DA said.

The NCDA recommended that Golden be sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Image via NCDA