State Police Investigates Two Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes on Route 146 Within a Four-Hour Period
Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, announces that Troopers responded to two separate fatal motor vehicle crashes on Route 146 that occurred within a four hour period on Wednesday afternoon, April 2, 2014.
The first crash occurred on April 2, 2014 at approximately 1:22 PM on Route 146 south in the Town of North Providence. The investigation revealed that a tractor-trailer struck a pedestrian in the first travel lane in the area of Mineral Spring Avenue. Upon arrival, Troopers observed an unoccupied Dodge minivan in the breakdown lane, a tractor-trailer stopped in the first lane of travel, and a semi-conscious victim being attended to by members of the North Providence Fire Department. The victim, identified as David W. Salois, age 28, of Harrisville, Rhode Island, was transported to Rhode Island Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Troopers, with the assistance of the North Providence Police Department, closed a section of the first lane of travel for approximately two hours while members of the State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit and Criminal Identification Unit conducted an investigation at the scene.
Several witnesses were interviewed as part of the investigation, which revealed that the operator of the Dodge minivan exited his vehicle after stopping in the breakdown lane and entered the first travel lane of travel, directly in the path of the on-coming tractor-trailer.
The operator of the tractor-trailer, identified as Michael R. Hammond, age 45, of Warwick, Rhode Island was not injured as a result of the collision. It has been determined that neither speed nor impairment contributed to this accident.
The second crash occurred at approximately 5:23 PM as the result of a wrong way driver traveling on Route 146, northbound in the southbound lanes in the area of Route 116 in the Town of Lincoln. Prior to the crash, multiple 9-1-1 calls were received at the State Police Lincoln Woods Barracks reporting the wrong way operator. A few moments later, additional 9-1-1 calls were received reporting that the vehicle had struck a second vehicle head on which had been traveling Route 146 South in the second lane of travel, just north of the Route 116 overpass. Troopers responded to the scene and were assisted by members of the Lincoln Police and Fire Departments. The operator of the vehicle that was traveling the wrong way sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash. She was identified as Marie Simone, age 89, of Warwick, Rhode Island. The operator of the second vehicle identified as Joseph Brophy, age 30, of Burrillville, Rhode Island sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Rhode Island Hospital where he is listed in stable condition.
Troopers from the Lincoln Woods Barracks, Collision Reconstruction Unit and Criminal Identification Unit are investigating all possible causes that led to this collision.
Motorists are reminded that they can immediately report dangerous drivers or hazardous roadway conditions to the police by dialing 911 or *77 on your cell phone.