Westerly man sentenced to 8.5 years for DUI crash that killed pedestrian

WESTERLY, R.I. — A Westerly man will spend more than eight years in state prison for a 2023 DUI crash that killed a 31-year-old pedestrian.

Matthew Lyons, 39, was sentenced Thursday in Washington County Superior Court.

A jury found Lyons guilty in June. He was convicted of driving under the influence resulting in death and driving to endanger resulting in death.

Superior Court Justice Kristin E. Rodgers sentenced Lyons to 15 years. He will serve 8.5 years at the Adult Correctional Institutions, also known as the ACI.

Lyons will also serve 15 years of probation.

He must pay a $5,000 fine. He must also complete substance abuse treatment.

His driver’s license will be suspended for five years after his release from prison.

Crash happened in Westerly

The charges stem from a crash on Oak Street in Westerly.

The crash happened on February 16, 2023.

Westerly police responded to the scene late that night. Officers found 31-year-old Michael DePaola on the sidewalk with serious injuries.

Rescue workers took DePaola to Westerly Hospital. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Witness spoke with police

Investigators also spoke with a witness who drove past the crash scene.

The witness told police she saw Lyons standing in the middle of the road.

She said Lyons told her he had hit a pedestrian. He then asked her to call 911.

Police also reported signs of impairment at the scene.

Lyons told officers he had been drinking before the crash. He also took part in field sobriety testing.

About two hours after the crash, Lyons took a breathalyzer test.

The test showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.109. Rhode Island’s legal limit is 0.08.

Jury finds Lyons guilty

The trial lasted seven days.

Jurors found Lyons guilty on both charges on June 11, 2026.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha said DePaola’s death continues to affect his family and the community.

Westerly Police Chief Paul J. Gingerella also thanked those who worked on the case.

The investigation involved the Westerly Police Department’s Accident Reconstruction Team and Detective Division. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office and Rhode Island State Police also assisted.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office and Westerly Police Department prosecuted the case.