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Mother Mourns Son Killed In Lunenburg Crash

LUNENBURG (CBS) — Carol Robbins visited the crash site where her son was killed in an alleged drunk driving crash over the weekend.

"It's a horrible place to be reminded where my son took his last breathe," Robbins said.

Prosecutors say Joseph Kapp, 19, of Gardner, was driving drunk when he crashed his car into several trees on Hollis Road in Lunenburg early Saturday morning.

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Joseph Kapp, charged with motor vehicle homicide by operating under the influence of alcohol. (WBZ-TV)

One of his passengers, 18-year-old Austin Robbins, a former star football player at Lunenburg High, died.  A second passenger, Sean McNiff, 19, of Lunenburg, was hurt.

Kapp pleaded not guilty to several charges Monday at his arraignment in Fitchburg District Court, including motor vehicle homicide by operating under the influence of alcohol. Several friends and his family came to court to show their support for Kapp.

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Friends of Austin Robbins gathered at a makeshift memorial Sunday at the scene where he was killed. (Photo by Kim Tunnicliffe - WBZ NewsRadio 1030)

He was held on $10,000 bail over the weekend.  Prosecutors asked the judge to keep that amount in place, but it was reduced to $2,500 due to the fact that Kapp has no criminal history.  His parents posted the bail.

Prosecutors said in court Monday that Kapp admitted to speeding after having four-to-five drinks at a party at Fitchburg State.  After he was arrested, he allegedly told police "my fake I-D has never failed me."  His blood alcohol level was 1.5 times the legal limit, according to investigators.

Austin Robbins had just graduated from Lunenberg High School in May.

Classmates and friends turned the site into a memorial for Austin.

"The kids put a lot of effort into this," Austin's mother Carol said.

Carol Robbins said she can only hope that teens forever affected by this tragedy will take the lesson to heart.

"It's a mother's worst nightmare, when you're a parent your kids are out and about driving in cars, you lay awake thinking about if I ever got that knock on the door, and I actually got that knock on the door," she said.  "And again, why Austin, why Austin? It's a terrible loss."

 

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Austin Robbins. (Yearbook Photo)

Kapp played football and baseball at Lunenburg High before becoming a student at B.U.

His attorney said Kapp is distraught over losing his best friend. Kapp is due back in court September 29.

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