Tetruashvili was driving his 1998 BMW to a friend's house on Avenue M when he smashed into the Jeep Cherokee, belonging to off-duty firefighter Alfred Delosrios, who cops say was drunk.
"My brother didn't deserve to die, not this way and not at this age," said Roland's brother, Sam Tetruashvili, 21. "He was the heart and soul of the family."
Roland, who moved with his family from the Republic of Georgia a decade ago, was buried at Washington Cemetery - a couple of blocks from where he died.
His mother bought him the now-demolished BMW, his dream car, as a present for his birthday April 3.
Delosrios, slightly hurt during the accident, was arrested and charged with DWI.
The 33-year-old firefighter, a former cop who graduated from the Fire Academy in March, was also initially charged with manslaughter.
But that charge was dropped because the dead young man was speeding at the time of the crash and that contributed to the teen's death, according to a spokesman for the Brooklyn district attorney.
After the DA's investigation is complete, prosecutors are expected to level more charges, a law-enforcement source said.
Delosrios, of Marine Park, was arraigned yesterday at Brooklyn Criminal Court. He was released on his own recognizance.
Related :
