Coventry Man Sentenced in Fatal Ledyard Crash

A 30-year-old Coventry man this week was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison for the drunk-driving death of his friend, Ryan J. Partridge, of West Greenwich, in Ledyard in 2013.

Michael Paolantonio was out drinking with friends at Foxwoods Resort Casino before the crash on the night of July 27.

Police said Paolantonio was driving his Partridge’s car when he lost control on Lantern Hill Road and drove down a steep embankment.

Partridge was pinned and pronounced dead at the scene.

Paolantonio reportedly had a blood alcohol level of .174.

The Day reported that Paolantonio said during sentencing that he hasn’t had a drink since the accident and wishes he could change what happened.

Prosecutors noted that he was an upstanding citizen who made a bad decision and had no criminal record before the fatal crash.