State police charge woonsocket man in fatal crash attributed to road rage on Interstate 295 in johnston
SCITUATE, RI – Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State
Police and Director of the Department of Public Safety, announces that members of
the Rhode Island State Police Scituate Barracks and members of the Major Crimes Unit
arrested a Woonsocket man in connection with a fatal car crash that occurred on
Interstate 295 north in Johnston on March 30, 2017 that was attributed to an alleged
act of road rage.
On April 5, 2017, Mitchell Savard, 41, of 398 Park Ave. Apt. 1, Woonsocket, was
arrested at his home on a warrant charging him with:
* Driving to Endanger, Resulting in Death
* Driving to Endanger, Resulting in Personal Injury
* Driving to Endanger, Resulting in Physical Injury
The arrest was the result of an investigation into a three-car motor vehicle crash
that occurred at approximately 9:50 a.m. on Interstate 295 north, just north of the
Route 6 on-ramp.
The investigation showed that just prior to the collision, Savard was traveling
north in the high-speed lane of Interstate 295 and made a lane change in front of a
tow truck that was traveling in the center lane. As a result of being cut off, the
operator of the tow truck sounded his air horn at Savard. Savard then intentionally
repeatedly tapped his brakes and then abruptly stopped his vehicle in the center
lane in front of the tow truck. This action caused the tow truck to also come to an
abrupt stop.
However, a box truck, also traveling in the center lane behind the tow truck, was
unable to avoid the two stopped vehicles and struck the rear of the tow truck, which
then struck the rear of Savard’s vehicle.
As a result of the crash, the operator of the box truck, identified as Erik Salazar,
age 23, of Brooklyn, NY, sustained fatal injuries and was later pronounced dead at
Rhode Island Hospital. The front seat passenger of the box truck, identified as
Andy Salgado, age 23, also of Brooklyn, NY, sustained serious bodily injuries and
remains in critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital. The operator of the tow
truck, identified as Trevor Armstrong, age 28, of Bristol, CT, sustained minor
physical injuries. Savard reported no injuries.
Savard is scheduled to appear at 3rd District Court this morning for an arraignment
hearing.
«Aggressive driving and road rage pose a deadly risk to every motorist in Rhode
Island,» said Colonel Ann Assumpico, Superintendent of State Police and Director of
the Department of Public Safety. «We take this threat very seriously, and we will
remain vigilant in the prosecution of any driver who puts others at risk.»