Driver In Crash That Killed Two NK Teens Sentenced

The North Kingstown man has been sentenced to three years in prison and another three years of home confinement after changing his plea from not guilty to no contest in the drunken-driving crash that killed two North Kingstown teenagers last year, according to the Providence Journal.

On Feb. 19, 2012, Nicholas Whiteley – now 22 years old – was behind the wheel of a truck carrying 19-year-old Michael Ruggieri and 18-year-old Madeline Healey down Shippeetown Road in East Greenwich. Whiteley, who was under the influence at the time of the crash, .

Whiteley was hospitalized following the crash with serious injuries for several days. He was charged with two counts of DUI (death resulting) and two counts of driving to endanger (death resulting). 

Following victim-impact statements, Superior Court Judge Bennett R. Gallo sentenced 22-year-old Whiteley to 10 years – with three to serve in prison and three to serve on home confinement. Whiteley will also lose his license for five years. Following that time, he will have an interlock device installed on his vehicle for two years, requiring he would have to blow into a breathalyzer to start his vehicle.