Apr. 15—A Pawcatuck man has rejected a suggestion to spend 16 years in jail in trade for pleading responsible to expenses linked to the loss of life of a mom and son from Norwich.
Derion Coker, 29, is charged with driving drunk or medication and two counts of second-degree manslaughter in reference to a Sept. 16, 2022, crash on Interstate 395 in Montville.
Police mentioned Coker was driving north when he struck and killed Jamie Krajewski, 33, and her son, 17-year-old Tyshon Harper, who had been standing within the shoulder of the freeway with a disabled car.
In Norwich Superior Court docket on April 9, Coker rejected the state’s provide, by which he would have needed to plead responsible to 2 counts of second-degree manslaughter. The case is now on the trial listing with an unspecified begin date.
Coker’s legal professional, Paul V. Carty of New Haven, mentioned the state’s plea provide was “not near cheap,” in gentle of what he argues are “obvious errors” within the state police investigation. Carty claims that Coker was not intoxicated on the time of the crash. He mentioned Coker didn’t exhibit indicators of intoxication after the crash and was not given a subject sobriety check or blood check instantly following the crash.
The 11:24 p.m. crash occurred within the northbound shoulder of I-395, simply north of Exit 9 in Montville. Police mentioned Krajewski and Harper had been standing outdoors two completely different automobiles, one in all which was damaged down, when Coker’s Volkswagon Passat drifted into the shoulder and struck the 2 automobiles and the mom and son. Two different individuals had been injured.
Coker, who admitted ingesting alcohol at Mohegan Solar earlier than the crash, initially claimed “somebody stepped out in entrance of his car,” and that he “could not react quick sufficient,” in response to the arrest warrant affidavit. Police allege Coker’s car crossed into the shoulder, struck the 2 automobiles and continued into the guardrails.
Police obtained surveillance footage from Coker’s time at Mohegan Solar previous to the crash that exhibits him ingesting 5 drinks ― three alcoholic drinks and two beers ― between 8:04 p.m. and 10:18 p.m., in response to the warrant. Police additionally mentioned Coker seems to be driving erratically as he leaves the on line casino’s parking storage. Police mentioned they discovered remnants of two marijuana joints in Coker’s car.
Carty mentioned Coker, who’s free on a $200,000 bond, is an “upstanding man and household man” who works and stays out of hassle.
Harper was the oldest of Krajewski’s 5 kids and attended Norwich Free Academy. Members of Krajewski’s household couldn’t be reached to remark.
g.smith@theday.com
