2 Drunken Drivers Cause Crashes In RI Over Weekend: State Police

CRANSTON, RI — Two drunken drivers caused crashes in Rhode Island over the weekend, resulting in two arrests.

Rhode Island State Police said one of the crashes was from a driver going the wrong way on Route 37, and the other someone hit a police cruiser.

The first crash happened around 7:05 p.m., Saturday. State Police said a 2017 Kia Optima was driving the wrong way on Route 37 westbound, after entering the road from Natick Avenue in Cranston.

State Police said the driver, Jay Petit, of Oakdale, Connecticut, continued driving the wrong way for just under a half-mile while passing multiple vehicles. Petit then merged onto the exit ramp from Route 295 northbound to Route 37 westbound, still driving the wrong way, and then struck a 2017 Honda Accord about 800 feet on the exit ramp, State Police said.

State Police said Petit ran away and was later found and taken into custody. He was taken to Roger Williams Hospital in Providence and charged with driving to endanger resulting in personal injury, driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs resulting in serious bodily injury, obstructing an officer in execution of duty and refusal to submit to a chemical test (first offense).

Petit was later arraigned by a Justice of the Peace and released to the care of Roger Williams Medical Center.

The operator of the Honda Accord was taken to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment, State Police said.

The second crash happened at 12:34 a.m., Sunday. State Police said a trooper was outside his cruiser clearing debris on Route 95 southbound, about 500 feet north of Route 6 in Providence, when a speeding white Chevrolet Silverado struck the rear of his cruiser.

State Police identified the driver as Curt Litaway, 40, of Fall River, Massachusetts. He was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor and/or drugs, possession of schedule I-V controlled substance, refusal to submit to a breathalyzer and numerous traffic citations.

State Police said no injuries were reported.