Man responsible for Northway crash that killed two has been granted parole
SARATOGA COUNTY, NY (WRGB) — The man who served time for a horrific crash that killed two teens and severely injured two others back in 2012 is out on parole.
Chris Stewart, a high school junior in 2012, was killed in a crash when Dennis Drue hit his car on the Northway.
Chris' best friend Deanna Rivers was also killed. Bailey Wind and Matthew Hardy were badly injured in the December 1st crash.
Dennis Drue who had a long history of license infractions, was found to have alcohol and drugs in his system at the time of the crash.
During a parole heading back in 2018, according to transcripts, one of the Parole Board Panel Commissioners asked Drue, “So I think I read in the sentencing minutes someone referenced 22 separate driving incidents. Were they wrong?”
“That’s probably the total with like running like a stop sign, but it was about four or five speeding tickets and there were other infractions as well,” Drue responded.
I was an immature and irresponsible kid and I was making poor decisions at the time. I think that’s clear. -Dennis Drue
He was also denied parole back in 2020. According to the Department of Corrections, he was released to parole on a "Limited Time Credit Allowance".
The means that he was able to be released six months before his next possible conditional release date.
His one decision destroyed our family and a whole community.
The parents of Deanna Rivers, Debbie and Brian released a statement to CBS6,
"It is a sad day for our family as our fight for justice is forced to end with Dennis Drue’s early release from prison today. When another human kills your child and sibling you do not get over it. It will never be okay that he gets to live his life as he is the one to blame for Deanna not living hers. His one decision destroyed our family and a whole community. How dare him come back to the 518 raising everyone’s fears and anxieties. He stole the presence of Deanna from our family and for that we will never ever forgive him."
