DUI Charges Upgraded For North Kingstown Man After Teen Dies

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI — A North Kingstown man facing drunken driving charges had his charges upgraded Tuesday after one of the teens he crashed into died in the hospital, prosecutors said.

Newport firefighter Alexander Krajewksi, 30, was arraigned Tuesday in 4th Division District Court in South Kingstown and charged with DUI of liquor or drugs resulting in death, driving to endanger with death resulting, DUI liquor or drugs resulting in serious bodily injury and driving so as to endanger personal injury resulting.

The head-on crash happened on Route 165 in Exeter on Feb. 12 and seriously injured two hockey players from West Warwick High School. One of the teens, Matthew Dennison, 17, later died at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence Thursday evening, officials said. The other teen, Kevin MacDonald, has since been released from the hospital.

A judge at 4th District Court in South Kingstown originally allowed Krajewski to continue driving with an ignition lock, because he needed to drive to Connecticut for paramedic classes. But Krajewksi has since been suspended from the paramedic program, and the Newport Fire Department put him on paid leave, WJAR 10 reported.

Krjewski's bail remains at $10,000 with surety. He is expected to return to court in June for a pre-trial hearing.