RI State Police Investigate Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident on Route 95 in the City of Pawtucket Caused by a Wrong Way Driver

Colonel Steven G. O'Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety announces that Troopers are investigating a motor vehicle accident that occurred early this morning resulting in one fatality.

At approximately 2:56 a.m., multiple 911 calls were received at the State Police Lincoln Woods Barracks reporting a vehicle was traveling on Route 95 northbound in the southbound lanes. A witness observed this vehicle strike the median barrier in the area of the Route 95 and Route 195 before continuing north. At approximately 3:04 a.m., additional 911 calls were received reporting a vehicle with the same description had struck a second vehicle head on which was traveling Route 95 south. This collision occurred south of Lonsdale Avenue in the City of Pawtucket. Troopers responded to the scene and were assisted by members of the Pawtucket Fire Department and Pawtucket Police Department. The operator of the vehicle traveling the wrong way was transported to Rhode Island Hospital and is currently in critical condition. Three individuals in the second vehicle were also transported to Rhode Island Hospital. The driver and front seat passenger sustained non-life threatening injuries as the result of the crash and are in stable condition. The rear seat passenger later succumbed to her injuries at Rhode Island Hospital. The names of the occupants of both vehicles are not being released at this time. Arrangements are being made to notify the next of kin of the deceased.

Troopers from the Lincoln Woods Barracks, Criminal Identification Unit and Collision Reconstruction Unit are investigating all possible causes that led to this collission.