Family Of 5 Hospitalized After 'Serious' Cranston DUI Crash: Cops

CRANSTON, RI — A family of five was hospitalized along with another motorist who was charged with felony driving under the influence following a "serious" crash on Route 37, police said.

One of the family members taken to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence after the wreck near London Avenue shortly before 4 a.m. Aug. 1 "suffered a serious facial laceration extending from above the right eyebrow to the bridge of the nose that required surgical repair," the Cranston Police Department said in a media release.

The other four escaped the ordeal with minor injuries, according to the release.

The family was riding in a 2021 Ram pickup truck that was rear-ended by a 2013 BMW, per the release.

The driver of the BMW 29-year-old Enrique Alvarado of Providence, "was traveling at a high rate of speed," according to the release, and the impact caused "extensive damage to both vehicles and airbag deployment."

"According to witnesses, following the crash, Alvarado attempted to leave the scene on foot before being stopped by the driver of the Ram until first responders arrived," the release said.

"Responding officers observed several signs of alcohol impairment, including difficulty standing, bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech, and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage," according to the release. "Alvarado refused to perform standardized field sobriety tests and was taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence. He later refused to submit to a chemical breath test at Cranston Police Headquarters."

Alvarado was also taken to Rhode Island Hospital, the release said.

"Upon his arrival, hospital staff obtained a blood sample for medical treatment purposes," according to the release. "Detectives are seeking a court-authorized search warrant to preserve that evidence as part of the criminal investigation."

The investigation remains active, police said.

"At this time, investigators believe excessive speed was a contributing factor in the crash," the release said.

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