DA Sini: Man Indicted for Allegedly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Crash That Killed a Mastic Beach Couple

LongIsland.com

Defendant Patrick Poillon, 24, allegedly fled on foot, leaving vehicle and injured passenger at scene.

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DA Sini announced the indictment of Patrick Poillon of Mastic Beach, 24, in connection with a fatal vehicle crash.

Photo by: Suffolk County Police Department

Central Islip, NY - January 8, 2019 - Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini today announced the unsealing of a 12-count indictment against a Connecticut man for allegedly causing the death of a husband and wife in a motor vehicle crash then fleeing the scene.
 
Patrick Poillon, 24, of Darien, Conn., is charged with two counts of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a C felony; two counts of Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Death, a D felony; Tampering with Physical Evidence, an E felony; Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, an A misdemeanor; Assault in the Third Degree, an A misdemeanor; Reckless Driving, an unclassified misdemeanor; Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, an A misdemeanor; Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Vehicle in the Third Degree, an unclassified misdemeanor; and Speeding and Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign, which are both traffic infractions.
 
“The defendant was allegedly driving more than twice the legal speed limit and blowing through stop signs in a residential neighborhood at the time of this horrific crash,” District Attorney Sini said. “Because of his reckless actions, a husband and wife were killed just days before Christmas.”
 
At approximately 10:11 p.m. on Dec. 22, 2018, Poillon was allegedly 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 allegedly 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 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.
 
Poillon was allegedly driving at approximately 68 mph at the time of the crash, which occurred in a 30 mph speed zone. Surveillance video also shows Poillon allegedly holding a “Natty Daddy,” which is a 25-ounce can of Natural Light beer, while driving.
 
Poillon was arraigned on the indictment today in front of Suffolk County Acting Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho. Bail was set at $1 million cash or $5 million bond and his license was suspended. He is due back in court on Feb. 4.
 
If convicted of the top count, Poillon faces a maximum sentence of five to 15 years in prison.
 
Poillon also has criminal charges pending in Brattleboro, Vermont, from an incident that occurred in August 2016 in which Poillon and a co-defendant allegedly assaulted a man in a supermarket and stole alcohol from him. The charges also include a hate-motivated Aggravated Disorderly Conduct charge for allegedly attacking an African-American woman during the incident and calling her a racial slur.
 
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jacob DeLauter and Maggie Bopp, of the Vehicular Crime Bureau.
 
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.