Lindenhurst resident Brian Mizhirumbay pleads guilty in DWI crash that killed Craig White

A Lindenhurst man who killed a beloved social worker in a high-speed drunken driving crash last year pleaded guilty in Nassau County Court on Wednesday under a plea deal with prosecutors.

Brian Mizhirumbay, 24, admitted driving drunk on Sept. 3, 2025, in Freeport, speeding through several red lights before slamming his car into a car driven by Craig White, 55, who had dedicated his life to helping people with developmental disabilities.

White had been driving home just after 11 p.m. from his job at AHRC Nassau, an agency designed to serve those with mental and physical disabilities.

Investigators clocked Mizhirumbay going more than 106 mph eastbound down Atlantic Avenue, ignoring traffic signals, with a blood alcohol content of 0.18%, more than double the legal limit of 0.08%.

He sped through the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and South Long Beach Avenue, where White was driving northbound, just minutes from his home, prosecutors said.

Mizhirumbay slammed into the driver's side of White’s car, pushing the driver’s seat into the passenger's side of the car, according to the district attorney’s office.

The force of the collision sent both cars careening through the intersection. White’s car plowed down a fence for Atlantic Nursery and trapped him. Mizhirumbay’s car came to rest on the westbound shoulder of the road and then burst into flames, authorities said.

White was taken to Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

"Bryan Mizhirumbay spent the evening drinking on the job as he served customers at a local restaurant before getting behind the wheel and hurtling down Atlantic Avenue at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said in a release. "He ran multiple red lights, creating hazardous conditions for every driver sharing the road with him, until his reckless and wild driving turned deadly.”

Mizhirumbay said nothing as he left the courthouse after his hearing.

His attorney, Steven Gaitman, said, "My client accepts responsibility and acknowledge his actions in this tragic case.”

White’s daughter, Destiny White, 25, said after the pleading that she felt relieved Mizhirumbay admitted his crime.

"I’m not going to have my dad for the most important moments of my life now, because of [Mizhirumbay's] selfish actions,” she told Newsday. "Him pleading guilty ... it felt right.”

She said that she can no longer drive by the scene of the accident because of the emotions that it triggers.

Under the plea deal, Mizhirumbay admitted the top count of aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault and aggravated driving while intoxicated — four of the nine counts against him.

White's daughter said that her father had "a big heart” and his job helping others genuinely made him happy.

AHRC Nassau dedicated a video memorial page to White on its website, showing photos of him working closely with its clients.

"His presence brought comfort, stability, and joy,” the memorial message said. "He was fully present on shift, taking the time to sit with our individuals and do puzzles, encouraging them as they learned new skills, helping them put on their shoes, and making sure they were ready for outings. He supported them with their daily needs, always patient and kind, never rushing, always seeing the person in front of him.”

Mizhirumbay returns to court on Nov. 2 for his sentencing.