ALBANY — Dennis Drue, the intoxicated Northway motorist who killed two teenagers and seriously injured two others on Dec. 1, 2012 in Halfmoon, was released on parole on Thursday after serving more than nine years in prison.
The 32-year-old Drue, who was rejected last August by the state’s parole board, was initially expected to be released this November. The Times Union reported last year that the date was moved up six months under a statutory release date.
News10 first reported Drue’s parole release Thursday.
Drue pleaded guilty in September 2013 to a 58-count indictment that included charges of second-degree manslaughter, aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter, assault, vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated. He begged for leniency from County Judge Jerry Scarano, who imposed a sentence of 5 to 15 years.
On the night of the crash, Drue was driving a Volvo S-60 sedan that struck a Ford Explorer in the northbound lanes of I-87 about a mile past the Twin Bridges. Drue — whose driving record included his causing of four previous car crashes — killed Deanna Rivers and Chris Stewart, both 17. Rivers’ boyfriend, Matt Hardy, and Stewart’s girlfriend, Bailey Wind, suffered serious injuries.
The families of the late victims and Wind have been vocal in their opposition to Drue’s release.
Drue, a father of two children, has spent his time in prison handling inmate grievances, among other duties.
“I could do 100 years in prison. There’s nothing that’s ever going to be truly just for these families,” he said in a transcript of a parole board hearing last July. “I don’t believe that I can do anything to make this right. I’m going to try to be a better man every day and do my best to be a productive member of society instead of someone who is a hazard.”
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