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December 1, 2006

Suspect insisted he was not driver in fatal crash

PROVIDENCE — Additional testimony today revealed that Patrick G. Coyle repeatedly told officers he was not driving at the time of the Oct. 29 accident that killed three of his friends in Woonsocket.

In the second day of the violation hearing to determine whether the single-car accident violated the terms of Coyle’s probation, prosecutors called Coyle's behavior after the crash "egregious."

Coyle, 21, told police and rescue personnel that Travis Thifault, whose mangled body was found in the passenger seat minutes after the accident, had been driving.

Assistant Attorney General Stephen Regine called this a “hallmark case” for drinking-and-driving accidents. “He denies driving and blames it on someone else,” Regine said of Coyle.

Thifault, 20, as well as brothers Steven and Victor Vasquez, 21 and 24, respectively, died in the high-speed crash.

Throughout today's hearing, defense attorney Mark Smith challenged the prosecution’s claim that Coyle was driving.

A judge will determine whether Coyle violated his probation on Monday. Coyle faces up to eight years in prison for a 2005 drug charge.

-- Journal staff writer Kia Hall Hayes

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 6:53 PM | Permalink

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