Rhode Island: Woman charged with DUI after striking police car
A New Bedford, Massachusetts woman is facing a charge of driving under the influence after rear-ending an East Providence Police cruiser early Sunday morning. Lt. Christopher Francesconi of the East Providence Police Department told WJAR it happened about 3 a.m. as officers were trying to clear the scene of a different crash on I-195.
"The operator was trying to stop," Francesconi said. "There's approximately 80 feet of skidmarks before she came into collision with the officer." The crash happened near Exit 6 on eastbound I-195. Police said the officer who was hit was sitting in his SUV at the time.
The crumpled Honda Accord now sits in the lot at Ocean State Towing in East Providence. Police said the driver of the car was Veronica Areias, 34, of New Bedford. Police found open containers in the backseat of her car and said Areias admitted she had been coming from a club in Providence and had been drinking.
Areias was taken to Rhode Island Hospital with minor injuries, where she was later summonsed to appear in court Jan. 7 for a DUI charge.
The officer was taken to Miriam Hospital, where he was treated and released.
Robert Tyler Jr. of Ocean State Towing cleared the car from the crash scene Sunday morning.
"It was stuck underneath it to where the bumper was pushed up almost to the windshield, the hood was pushed up to the windshield," Tyler said. "It was a serious accident."
Tyler said he's worked as a tow truck operator for seven years and has seen plenty of crashes like this one, many of which involved alcohol.
"When you get in your car and drive, it's not safe," Tyler said. "It's not safe for you, it's not safe for other drivers. You're putting not only yourself but other drivers at risk also, along with people that have children and everything. It's not safe at all to do."
Francesconi said it highlights the dangers police officers face on the roads.
"It's pretty nerve-racking being out there in a situation like this on a Saturday night, so it's pretty scary for us," Francesconi said. "It puts the general public in quite a predicament when these people are operating on the roadway."
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