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November 30, 2006

Woonsocket man charged in friends' deaths denied driving

PROVIDENCE — The man charged with the death of three of his friends initially denied being the driver of the car that launched through a Woonsocket intersection and crashed into a tree last month, according to testimony presented today in the suspect's first court appearance in nearly a month.

Police believe that Patrick G. Coyle, 21, of 41 Congress St., Woonsocket, was the driver of the car and that he was under the influence of alcohol when he crashed. Coyle has been charged with three counts of driving to endanger, death resulting, three counts of driving under the influence; and one count of driving with a suspended license.

But today's hearing was primarily focused on a probation violation. At the time of the crash Coyle was serving an eight-year suspended sentence for a 2005 drug charge. If prosecutors prove that Coyle broke the law, they can seek to have him serve part or all of the eight-year sentence.

Among those who testified for the prosecution today was Woonsocket firefighter Steven Encarnation, one of the first to arrive at the scene on Oct. 29. He told prosecutors that Coyle said he was sitting in the back seat of the car at the time of the accident, even though Encarnation saw him in the driver’s seat when he arrived.

After pulling himself out of the driver’s side window, Coyle also told rescue personnel that Travis Trifault -- who was found dead in the front passenger seat -- was driving at the time of the accident, and that he and his friends were at Amvets Post 7 before the accident.

-- Journal staff writer Kia Hall Hayes

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 6:22 PM | Permalink

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