DUI Charge for Cranston Woman who Caused Semi to Overturn onto Police Cruiser in I-95 Construction Zone

A 22-year-old Cranston woman is facing charges of driving under the influence after she crashed and caused a chain reaction of crashes that overturned a tractor trailer and nearly crushed a State Trooper on Interstate 95 Friday morning.

Police said Lauren P. Woodbridge, 22, of 1687 Broad St., reportedly was drunk when she rear-ended a construction crash truck parked within a construction zone about 300 feet south of Exit 22 at around 2:40 a.m.

After hitting the crash truck, she veered to the left, hitting the side of a tractor trailer that overturned and landed partially on a state police cruiser.

The momentum of the impact sent the cruiser 100 feet down the road into one of the construction workers at the scene. He suffered minor injuries.

The state police said that Woodbridge was arraigned Friday on charges of driving under the influence and driving to endanger resulting in injury.

The trooper, along with Woodbridge, were transported to Rhode Island hospital for treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.

State Police Superintendent Col. Steven G. O’Donnell said that all motorists need to be mindful of construction work zones and should slow down.

“The crash truck and State Police cruiser that was struck were in place to protect the workers within the construction zone,” O’Donnell said.

At the hospital, police said Woodbridge showed signs of intoxication.

Woodbridge, a Johnson & Wales Student, consented to a blood test at the hospital.

The crash temporarily shut down the highway for a brief period overnight.