RI man faces manslaughter, DUI charges for deadly Montville crash

NORWICH, CT (WFSB) - A Rhode Island man was scheduled to face a judge Tuesday for his role in a crash that left two people dead.

Derion Coker, 29, of Pawtucket, RI, was charged with two counts of second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, two counts of evading responsibility with death, operating under the influence if drugs and/or alcohol, and failure to maintain a proper lane.

On Sept. 16, 2022, Connecticut State Police said they responded around 11:30 p.m. to exit 9 on Interstate 395 southbound in Montville.

A car had broken down on the right shoulder of the highway. Another vehicle was parked behind it.

State police said Coker drove in the right lane.

They said he crossed over the white line and into the shoulder where he hit both vehicles and two pedestrians, troopers said.

Authorities said 17-year-old Tyshon Harper and 33-year-old Jamie Krajewski, both of Norwich, were pronounced dead on scene.

Coker was taken into custody on June 2 on an extraditable arrest warrant.

He posted a $200,000 bond and was set to appear Tuesday in Norwich Superior Court.

Coker’s arrest warrant can be read below:

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