Updated: Driver Involved in Fiery Gas Station Crash Pleads Not Guilty

JOHNSTON, RI —The 19-year-old Johnston man, whose two passengers died in a fiery crash in a Route 6 Sunoco station, pleaded Not Guilty in court today.

Zachary Albanese was drag racing before the Dec. 13 double fatal accident, police allege. State police announced yesterday they are charging both drivers involved. Peter Lawrence, 26, of Scituate, is the other suspect. He also pleaded Not Guilty.

Albanese lost control of his car, hit another vehicle and spun into the Sunoco station where he hit an unoccupied Honda parked in front of a gas pump, the Attorney General's office said.

Taylor Reilly, 18, of Coventry, and Dylan Lorenzo, 18, of Johnston, died as a result of their injuries. Taylor was the passenger in the back seat. She was pronounced dead at Rhode Island Hospital on Dec. 13. Dylan was riding in the front seat. He also died at Rhode Island Hospital.

State police said Albanese and Lawrence were charged on Jan. 17 with two counts of Driving to Endanger, Death Resulting and Street Racing – (Justin Nunes’ Law).

The accident investigation, state police said, "revealed that just prior to the collision, Albanese and Lawrence were allegedly engaged in a high-speed street race resulting in Albanese striking a third vehicle that was attempting to make a left turn onto Bishop Hill Road from Route 6 West. Albanese subsequently lost control of his vehicle, left the roadway, spun into the parking lot of a Sunoco gas station, where it then struck an unoccupied Honda SUV that was parked in front of a gas pump. The vehicle then rotated across the parking lot and re-entered Route 6 West where it came to a final rest."

Courtesy Photo