Rhode Island man sentenced to prison in crash that killed 17-year-old, seriously injured 19-year-old

Attorney General Peter Neronha announced today that a North Kingstown man has been sentenced in Washington County Superior Court to the Adult Correctional Institutions for driving under the influence and causing a crash that killed 17-year-old Matthew Dennison and seriously injured 19-year-old Kevin MacDonald in 2022.

On March 6, 2024, at a hearing before Superior Court Justice Melanie Wilk Thunberg, the defendant, 32-year-old Alexander Krajewski, pleaded guilty to one count of driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in death and one count of driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in serious bodily harm.

At the hearing, the Court sentenced Krajewski to 15 years, with 12 years to serve at the ACI, and a three-year suspended sentence with 15 years of probation. The Court also imposed $6,000 in fines, revoked Krajewski’s license for the seven years following his release from prison, and ordered the defendant to complete a substance abuse program upon completion of his sentence.

Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that Krajewski drove his truck while intoxicated and caused the crash that killed Matthew Dennison and seriously injured Kevin MacDonald.

During the evening of February 12, 2022, Krajewski was heavily intoxicated and driving his black Ford F-150 on Ten Rod Road in Exeter. At approximately 9:00 pm., Krajewski left the proper lane of travel, veering into oncoming traffic, and collided with a white Nissan Altima. At approximately 9:10 p.m., Rhode Island State Police troopers responded to a report of the motor vehicle collision and observed the aftermath of a serious head-on crash between the vehicles. Exeter Fire and Rescue was also on scene tending to the passengers in the Nissan Altima, both of whom were seriously injured, and ultimately transporting them to the hospital.

Troopers detected an overwhelming odor of alcohol emanating from Krajewski’s breath, and observed his bloodshot, watery eyes and slurred speech. Krajewski admitted to consuming alcohol prior to driving and failed the field sobriety tests administered to him by the troopers. After failing the tests, Krajewski agreed to submit to a Preliminary Breath Test and provided a sample of 0.234% Blood Alcohol Content, nearly three times the legal limit. At that time, officers took Krajewski into custody.

At the Hope Valley State Police Barracks, Krajewski refused to submit to a chemical breath test. Subsequently, troopers obtained a warrant for the defendant’s blood, which was drawn at 12:29 a.m. and he was determined to have a BAC of 0.189%, more than twice the legal limit, approximately three-and-a-half hours after the crash.

Assistant Attorney General Mark Trovato of the Office of the Attorney General and Captain Jeffrey P. L’heureux, Corporal Adam Kennett, and Trooper Andrew Pilling of the Rhode Island State Police led the investigation and prosecution of the case.