SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) — A North Kingstown man and former Newport firefighter accused of driving drunk and causing a head-on crash that killed one teenager and injured another faced a judge Thursday morning.
Alexander Krajewski, 30, pleaded not guilty to charges of driving under the influence resulting in death, driving to endanger resulting in death, and two counts of driving under the influence resulting in serious bodily injury.
He was ordered not to drive and is due back in court in September.
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Matt Dennison and Kevin MacDonald, both 17, were driving to a West Warwick hockey rink back in February when Krajewski hit their car on Ted Rod Road in Exeter, according to police.
Dennison died from his injuries on March 10, while MacDonald broke his arm and femur. He had a 20-inch rod put in his leg, along with two metal plates.
Dennison was the captain of the West Warwick/Exeter-West Greenwich High School hockey team alongside MacDonald.
Friends, family and supporters arrived at court wearing matching shirts to stand in solidarity and show support for the two teens.
Dennison’s family says they now look forward to a trial, where they feel confident a jury will find Krajewski guilty of causing the crash that killed their son.
“What we saw in that courtroom today, was nothing but pure evil,” Dennison’s father Mark said. “That man made a choice, this was not an accident, it was plain, the evidence is black and white and that will all come out.”
MacDonald was also at court and reflected on the support they have gotten since the day of the crash.
“[It] feels great, it’s a family I’ve been having, and just having them out here and having anybody else that’s part of the hockey team, or not, it’s all a part of the family,” he said. “Especially wearing these shirts for Matthew it feels amazing.”
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MacDonald’s grandmother, Beth McCarty, said it was emotional being there with everyone.
“It’s wonderful to see all of the support that we have here and we’re just really hoping that this guy will man up today and do what he should be doing, should have done months ago, but we don’t really expect that,” she said.
Other families who have also been impacted by drunk driving have called for the people responsible in their respective cases to be held responsible and for stricter laws to be enforced.
“We don’t want to see this happen anymore and not have such lenient sentences for people who go out and kill people on the road because they decided to go out and drink,” McCarty continued. “It’s the irresponsibility of it. They should be punished more harshly.”
12 News tried to speak with Krajewski and his lawyer after court but they said they had no comment.
