Drunk Boater in Fatal June 2012 Crash Sentenced

A Dix Hills man will spend the next 4 to 12 years in prison after he drunkenly crashed his boat into another last June, killing a West Islip man, according to Newsday.

Brian Andreski, 27, of Dix Hills, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide and second-degree manslaughter in December for the June 23 crash that killed Christopher Mannino, 39, of West Islip.

During the sentencing, a visibily sobbing Andreski addressed the Mannino family in the court room.

"I want to apologize to the whole Mannino family. I hope one day you can find it in your hearts to forgive me," he said, according to Newsday. "I wish I could take it back."

Andreski could have faced the maximum 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison, but Suffolk prosecutors recommended a shorter sentence.

Mannino's wife, Michele Weil, spoke at the sentencing.

"Brian Andreski has impacted my life in a way that I'll never recover from. I stand before you dead, but alive," she said, according to Newsday.  "I wish it could be you who was dead, not Chris. I pray you have children some day and see what you took."