Parents of the two teenagers who died in the February 2012 crash speak out at the sentencing.
In an emotion-filled courtroom Tuesday afternoon, Nicholas Whiteley, 21, of North Kingstown, was sentenced to 10 years, 3 to serve at the ACI and 3 on home confinement, in connection to the accident Feb. 19, 2012, on Shippeetown Road in East Greenwich that resulted in the deaths of Madeline Healey, 18, and Michael Ruggieri, 19, both of North Kingstown. In addition, Whiteley loses his driver's license for five years, and must have Interlock (where you have to blow into a machine in order to get it to start) for two years upon return of license, and he must pay a $5,000 fine. Whiteley had changed his plea from not guilty to no contest. In that Kent County Courthouse room were Healey and Ruggieri family members. As reported by WPRI, James …
The tragedy that left two teenagers dead early Sunday has cast a pall over both East Greenwich, where it took place, and North Kingstown, home to those involved.
Ever since news broke of the deadly truck rollover on Shippeetown Road in East Greenwich Sunday morning, waves of sadness and concern have rippled through the two communities involved. All four occupants of the pickup truck that crashed around 3:45 a.m. Sunday were from North Kingstown, but since the accident took place in East Greenwich, the trauma has been felt locally as well. In Felicia’s Wednesday afternoon, it was impossible not to overhear a young man’s too-loud voice talking through the crash with his older companion. Just off Main Street, someone has painted “RIP Mike Ruggieri” on the back window of a red pickup truck. Ruggieri, 19, is one of the two who were pronounced dead at the scene. Madeline “Maddie” Healey, 18, is the …
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s.n.r.
12:58 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Such a tragic story...as parents we have an obligation and a duty to tell our children that drinking is unacceptable before turning 21. We can say that it's a rite of passage to drink when you're young but too many children are dying. Ask where your children are going, when they are coming home ...and occasionally check their stories by going to where they say they are going to be. If they are … more ›