Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini today announced the sentencing of a man to prison for causing the death of a husband and wife in a motor vehicle crash then fleeing the scene.
Patrick Poillon, 26, of Mastic Beach, pleaded guilty on Oct. 9 to two counts of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a class C felony, and Leaving the Scene of an Incident Resulting in Death, a class D felony. He was sentenced today by Suffolk County Acting Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho to three to nine years in prison.
“This was a senseless tragedy that occurred because of the defendant’s reckless behavior and clear disregard for the safety of others,” District Attorney Sini said. “After speeding through a residential neighborhood and striking the Molnars’ vehicle, he tried to avoid the consequences of his actions by fleeing the scene, but today’s prison sentence holds him responsible for the pain and devastation he caused this family.”
At approximately 10:11 p.m. on Dec. 22, 2018, Poillon was driving a 2006 Ford Explorer southbound on Huguenot Drive in Mastic Beach when he drove through a stop sign and struck a 2004 Subaru Legacy traveling eastbound on Forest Road West. Poillon fled the scene of the crash on foot, leaving the Explorer and a passenger at the scene.
The two passengers in the Subaru, William Molnar, 50, and Jean Molnar, 41, both of Mastic Beach, were pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner.
A then-22-year-old male passenger in the front seat of the Explorer was transported by Suffolk County Police helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of physical injuries.
Following an investigation by Suffolk County Police Major Case Unit detectives, Poillon was arrested at a relative’s residence in Mastic Beach at approximately 3:37 a.m. on Dec. 23, 2018.
The investigation revealed that Poillon was driving at approximately 68 mph at the time of the crash, which occurred in a 30 mph speed zone.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jacob DeLauter, of the Vehicular Crime Bureau.