Crime & Safety
North Kingstown Man Gets 12-Year Sentence For DUI, Killing Teen Boy
Former Newport firefighter Alexander Krajewski admits to drunken driving charges in a crash that killed Matthew Dennison, 17.
NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI — A former Newport firefighter from North Kingstown was sentenced Wednesday to 12 years in state prison after he admitted to causing a crash that killed a 17-year-old boy and injured another teen while driving under the influence of alcohol.
Alexander Krajewski, 32, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in death and driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in serious bodily harm.
The crash killed Matthew Dennison of West Warwick and seriously injured Kevin MacDonald, 19, also of West Warwick. Both teens were members of the West Warwick-Exeter-West Greenwich high school hockey team. Dennison was a team captain and helped lead the team to a state championship in 2020.
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Had the case proceeded to trial, prosecutors said they were prepared to prove Krajewski drove his truck while intoxicated and caused the crash that Dennison and seriously injured MacDonald.
On Feb. 12, 2022, Krajewski was heavily intoxicated and driving his black Ford F-150 on Ten Rod Road in Exeter. Around 9 p.m., Krajewski left his lane, veered into oncoming traffic, and collided with a white Nissan Altima head-on.
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Both Dennison and MacDonald were in the Nissan and were rushed to the hospital after the crash. Dennison died at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence about a month later.
Rhode Island State Police said they detected an overwhelming odor of alcohol emanating Krajewski's breath. His eyes were also blood-shot, and his speech was slurred.
State police said Krajewski admitted to drinking alcohol before driving and failed a series of field sobriety tests. According to police, Krawjewski's blood-alcohol level was 0.234 percent, nearly three times the legal limit.
Following Krawjewski's prison sentence, he must serve 15 years of probation. He was also fined $6,000, will have his license revoked for seven years once released from prison, and will have to complete a substance abuse program.
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