The grandson of former Duke University men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski was arrested and charged with driving while impaired after his car struck and killed a 15-year-old boy on Saturday, April 18.
Joseph Savarino, son of Krzyzewski’s daughter, Debbie Savarino, allegedly registered a .11 on a breathalyzer, above the .08 legal limit, several hours after the accident. It happened in Durham, North Carolina, the same town as Duke’s campus.
Police say the accident occurred when the boy, identified as Jack O’Shea, rode in front of Savarino’s Ford Explorer as they traveled in the same direction at around 9 p.m. on Saturday. Savarino’s vehicle collided with the boy, who died at the scene.
Savarino, 26, was booked in a local jail and released on $100,000 bail on Monday, April 20, according to online records.
Joseph’s arrest comes four years after his brother, Michael Savarino, was also arrested for DWI. Michael, 25, served one year of probation for his 2022 arrest, which happened while he was a member of the Blue Devils basketball team.
Jack’s mom, Allison O’Shea, took to Facebook on Sunday, April 19, to share the news of his death and some insight into her son’s life.
“It is with unfathomable sadness that [my husband] and I share that our perfect, smart, athletic, fearless and handsome baby boy, Jack, passed away yesterday, April 18th, at just 15 years old,” she wrote. “We are finding comfort in what was his last perfect day. He woke up and asked to go to confession at Immaculate Conception Church. He then played two baseball games with his high school team, where he did what he always did — showed up fully and excelled at first base.
Allison continued, “Later, he went on his usual afternoon bike ride with friends. As he was coming back into our neighborhood, he was involved in an accident and was hit by a car. Jesus took him immediately. We will never understand why his time here was so short or why he was needed so soon, but we have to hold onto our faith that he is now our angel. We are better people because of him, and we will carry him with us always.”
“The depth of this grief is beyond anything we could have ever imagined. This is a club no parent ever wants to be part of,” she added. “At the same time, we have been surrounded by the most incredible love. Our home has been filled with support, and so many showed up at the scene that night. We are deeply grateful for our village.”
