Rhode Island State Police and the Office of the Rhode Island Attorney General Lead Multi-Agency Investigation into a Police Pursuit and Serious Injury Crash
The Rhode Island State Police and the Office of the Rhode Island Attorney General assisted by the Richmond Police Department and Hopkinton Police Department are investigating a police pursuit and serious injury crash that occurred after 6:00 p.m. on Monday, March 21, 2016.
The preliminary investigation revealed the following information:
At 6:03 p.m., the Richmond Police Department received a complaint that a male attempted to pass counterfeit money at the Family Dollar Store located at 1190 Main Street in Richmond and left the store in a Dodge Van with New York license plate GMG5976.
A Richmond Police Officer was traveling north on Route 3 (Main Street) in Hopkinton and observed the Dodge Van traveling south on Route 3 in front of 1019 Main Street. The Richmond Police Officer initiated a traffic stop, pulled in front of the Dodge Van, left the police car and moved onto the sidewalk area on foot. The Dodge Van drove onto the sidewalk/parking lot area toward the Richmond Police Officer, traveled past the officer and continued south on Route 3. The Richmond Police Officer reported via his police radio that the vehicle had attempted to «ram» (strike) him and advised he was in pursuit of the Dodge Van.
While traveling north on Route 3, a Hopkinton Police Officer observed the Dodge Van traveling south in the northbound lane directly toward him, and he pulled into a side street to avoid a collision before joining the pursuit. The Dodge Van continued south on Route 3 at high speed and turned on to Woodville Alton Road. The Dodge Van traveled over a small berm at the intersection and began traveling east on Woodville Alton Road in the westbound lane. The Dodge Van traveled up the 95 south bound exit ramp (exit 2) in the wrong direction and made a U turn to travel south on Route 95 south.
The Dodge Van continued south on Route 95 and reached speeds over 100 mph. During the pursuit on Route 95, the Dodge Van struck the Richmond Police car, injuring the officer. After this contact, the officers slowed to create a distance between the Dodge Van and their police cars. As the Dodge Van approached Exit 1, it slowed abruptly, went out of control and struck a tree between the exit ramp and the highway.
The operator of the Dodge Van, Miguel Sorian, age 23, of 110-52 Corona Avenue, Apartment 1R, Corona, New York, and one of the passengers, Allison Castillo, age 19, 63-25 Austin Street, Rego Park, New York, sustained life-threatening injuries. They were both transported to Rhode Island Hospital where they remain in critical condition.
The other four occupants of the Dodge Van are:
1. Marco Neira, age 19, of 111-50 Carmel Avenue, Apartment 1, Corona, New York, who was treated and released at Rhode Island Hospital.
2. Gesielle Bravo, age 18, of 3225 80th Street, East Elmhurst, New York, who was treated and released at Rhode Island Hospital.
3. Laura Rodriguez, age 19, of 3225 80th Street, East Elmhurst, New York, was treated and released at Rhode Island Hospital.
4. Isaias Vasquez, age 15, of 8108 138th Street, Queens, New York, who was not injured.
The Richmond Police Officer suffered minor injuries and was transported to Westerly Hospital where he was treated and released last night.
Miguel Sorian is expected to be arraigned on the following charges:
• Reckless Driving
• Eluding Police
• Driving to Endanger Resulting in Serious Injury
• Driving to Endanger Resulting in Injury
• Felony Assault with a Dangerous Weapon – 2 counts
The investigation into the passing of counterfeit money is ongoing.
The penalty for a person convicted of felony assault with a dangerous weapon is imprisonment for not more than twenty (20) years. The penalty for a person convicted of driving so as to endanger, resulting in serious bodily injury is imprisonment for not more than five (5) years.