Oneida (WSYR-TV) – An 18-year-old who was driving the car that crashed and killed his friend was sentenced Friday to 60 days in jail, with five years probation.
Michael Krowicki pleaded guilty in March to criminally negligent homicide. He admitted to driving at speeds approaching 100 miles per hour when he lost control of his car and slammed into a tree, killing his friend, 16-year-old Ryan Aldasch.
Krowicki said he was trying to “catch air” along a stretch of Sayles Street in Oneida.
"I just want to say that I do live with much regret and remorse every day," Krowicki said at the sentencing.
The judge, who promised Krowicki no more than six months in jail when he pleaded guilty in March, sentenced the teen to 60 days in jail, but with good behavior, he will probably serve no more than 40 days in jail.
He will also serve 200 hours of community service and spend five years on probation.
Krowicki will have to report to jail no later than May 29th.
Before the sentencing Friday, Ryan Aldasch's parents told NewsChannel 9 they didn’t want to see the teenager go to jail.
"Sending a kid like him, to me, to jail is not the answer, to give back to the community, to never forget Ryan and for him to do positive things in life, that's all I ask for,” John Aldasch, Ryan’s father, said.
Saturday marks one year since 16-year-old Ryan Aldasch, from Oneida, was killed in a car crash.
As part of those 200 hours of community service, Judge Dennis McDermott hopes Krowicki will tell the story of that night to as many different teens as possible in hopes of preventing them from making the same reckless and dangerous choice.
"We know they're speaking at V-V-S on the 26th, we saw the letter going around about that, so we may go to that one," says John Aldasch.
Krowicki has spoken to about a half-dozen schools so far, and is scheduled to speak at several more.
"When I talk to schools, I know it has a deep impact because they're speechless, you hear them say 'wow' and cry," said Krowicki.
Judge McDermott told Krowicki he was "
very impressed with the number of letters I've received from various school officials where you've spoken who've told me very clearly you had made a very positive impact at these places -- exactly what I was hoping you would."Ryan Aldasch's parents continue to encourage the city to look at making changes to that road to keep more accidents from happening.
Saturday night, on the one year anniversary of Ryan's death, is what would have been his junior prom. His friends will line Sayles Street with limos and light candles at midnight, in his memory.
McDermott says he hopes Krowicki will continue to speak at as many schools as possible before he reports to jail at the end of the month, and then talk to students at driver's ed classes over the summer once he gets out of jail.
