Bay Shore father and son plead guilty in fatal Sunrise Highway DWI crash

Brian August struck and killed Willie Singleton on his three-wheel motorcycle in April 2025

August’s admitted serving him vodka in the car minutes before the crash

A Bay Shore young man and his father pleaded guilty this week in connection with a DWI wreck in Massapequa that killed 48-year-old William “Willie” Singleton Jr. and seriously injured his wife Aryn, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced.

Brian August, 20, pleaded guilty before Judge Terence Murphy to aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault, and aggravated driving while intoxicated per se.

He is due back in court Sept. 24 and is expected to be sentenced to 4½ to 12 years behind bars. Prosecutors had recommended 7 to 15 years.

August’s father, 43-year-old Brian Kitchen, pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless endangerment for serving his then-19-year-old son vodka shots inside their vehicle just moments before the crash. Kitchen is also due back in court Sept. 24 and faces a one-year jail sentence.

“As a parent, it is inconceivable to me that a father could be so reckless and careless as to pour and serve his underage, teenage son shots of liquor while driving,” Donnelly said. “Make no mistake, Brian August made the decision to drive drunk and was behind the wheel when he struck and killed Willie Singleton, but his father, Brian Kitchen, also failed his son and the Singletons that night.”

Investigators said August was driving a 2023 Bentley east on Sunrise Highway on April 19, 2025, when he was stopped at a red light in the left-turn lane at Unqua Road. He then turned sharply to the right, crossing the eastbound lanes and striking Willie Singleton’s Polaris Slingshot, which was carrying Singleton and his wife Aryn, authorities said.

Singleton of Bay Shore was thrown from the three-wheeled vehicle and struck a car parked at the intersection. He died at the scene.

Aryn Singleton suffered severe injuries to her hips and legs that required emergency surgery, including a rod implanted in her leg. She now relies on a wheelchair and walker to get around.

Weeks after the crash, Aryn Singleton posted a heartfelt and heartbreaking video of the couple enjoying a concert together, with the caption saying simply, “Why 💔? We had so many plans for our future 💔”

Blood drawn from August, taken about four hours after the crash, showed his blood alcohol content at .20 — more than twice the legal limit, Donnelly said. Additionally, police said investigators found a 1.75-liter bottle of vodka and several empty miniature bottles inside the Bentley.

August was arrested the night of the crash. Kitchen was arrested in October.

_{Top photos: Willie Singleton (Facebook) and Singleton with his wife, Aryn (Facebook/Aryn Singleton)}