Rhode Island State Police Arrests Two Suspects for Reckless Driving/ Drag Racing on the Newport Bridge
RI – Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Commissioner of Public Safety, announces that at 1:48 AM on March 15, 2014, members of the Wickford Barracks conducted a traffic stop of two vehicles that were speeding on the Newport Bridge. The vehicles were traveling East on the Newport Bridge, side by side, one in the left hand lane and one in the right hand lane. Troopers were able to obtain a moving radar speed of 91 MPH in a posted 40 MPH zone on both vehicles. It was apparent to the Troopers that the two vehicles were operating recklessly and racing.
Troopers were able to stop both vehicles at the exit ramp for downtown Newport. The two operators of the vehicles were identified as Marco L. Basile, age 21 of 20 Somerset St., East Longmeadow, MA and Curtis J. Lussier, age 24 of 43 Breezy Knoll Road, Longmeadow, MA. Due to the dangerous speed on the bridge along with wet road conditions, Troopers arrested both operators for Reckless Driving/ Drag Racing. They were held overnight at the Wickford Barracks and arraigned this morning. They were released after posting $2,000 with surety bail and given future 2nd District Court dates.