Investigation into fatal crash continues

Grand jury to hear evidence against driver in accident that killed two students

BALLSTON SPA — Saratoga County Judge Jerry J. Scarano approved on Thursday a request from the county district attorney’s office to extend the term of the grand jury charged with hearing evidence against 22- year- old Dennis Drue in the Northway crash that killed two Shenendehowa High School students.

The grand jury was scheduled to be relieved of its duty Dec. 31, but the investigation is ongoing, so Scarano approved the request for the grand jury to stay on through Feb. 18, 2013.

Saratoga County District Attorney James A. Murphy III said Thursday he cannot comment on the testimony the grand jury has heard or will hear, but that the investigation into the crash is continuing.

Blood drawn from Drue immediately after the crash and tested at a state lab indicated he was not legally drunk when his Volvo struck an SUV driven by Christopher Stewart. Stewart and his passenger, Deanna Bailey were both killed in the crash.

Two other passengers in the vehicle, Bailey Wind and Matthew Hardy, were seriously injured.

Additional blood work to determine whether Drue had drugs in his system when he crashed is still pending.

“State police have made it a priority at the lab,” Murphy said. “They’re literally working around the clock.”

The state lab is charged with processing evidence from 18 counties in the state.

State police also are continuing work on an accident reconstruction.