Dennis Drue, on parole for killing 2 in 2012 Northway crash, arrested for alleged impersonation

The above photo is from 2013 and is not a current image of Dennis Drue

COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Dennis Drue, the driver in the deadly 2012 Northway rollover crash, was arrested on Wednesday for alleged impersonation, according to a report by the Colonie Police Department.

At about 8:37 p.m., a police officer was on a routine patrol through the Crossings Park of Colonie and noticed a running car after park hours, the report stated. The officer reportedly spoke with the driver and, after running a file check, found that he had allegedly given a fake name.

The driver, identified as Drue, was arrested and charged with false personation, according to the police report. He was reportedly transported to the Colonie police station for processing and is due back in Colonie Town Court on April 2.

Drue had previously spent nine and a half years in prison after killing two Shenendehowa High School students and seriously injuring two others in a rollover crash on the Northway in 2012. The students who were killed were Christopher Stewart and Deanna Rivers, and the two who were seriously injured are Bailey Wind and Matt Hardy.

Drue admitted to speeding and being both drunk and high at the time of the crash. He also pleaded guilty to 58 charges, including vehicular manslaughter and aggravated vehicular homicide. Drue was released from prison on parole in 2023.

NEWS10’s Vanessa Blasi reached out to the parents of Deanna Rivers and Christopher Stewart following Wednesday’s arrest. In a combined statement they said, “We’re not surprised and from the paperwork we were provided in May 2023 upon his release, he did not have a drivers license and wasn’t supposed to be driving, so we believe it was a direct violation of his parole and he should be sent back to prison.”

NEWS10 also reached out to the Department of Corrections and Community Supervisions to determine if Wednesday’s arrest was a violation of parole. We’re still waiting to hear back. Stick with NEWS10 for all updates on this story.