Warwick Man Injures 11-Year-Old Girl In Drunken Crash: AG

WARWICK, RI — A Warwick man is facing drunken driving and gun charges after injuring an 11-year-old girl in a crash in February, Attorney General Peter Neronha said Thursday.

On Aug. 3, James Thatcher, 68, was charged in Kent County Superior Court with driving under the influence resulting in serious bodily injury, driving to endanger resulting in serious bodily injury, driving to endanger resulting in physical injury, carrying a pistol without a license, and transporting a firearm while under the influence.

Warwick police responded to a crash with injuries at the intersection of Main Avenue and Carolyn Street on Feb. 3. Prosecutors said witnesses told police they saw Thatcher speeding and swerving in a white Jeep Liberty before crashing into a Chevrolet Cruze.

The Cruze had a woman and her 11-year-old daughter inside, prosecutors said. According to prosecutors, the crash forced the Chevrolet to spin and strike a utility pole.

Prosecutors said Thatcher had bloodshot eyes, reeked of alcohol and was slurring his speech when officers spoke with him. When police started questioning him about the crash, prosecutors said Thatcher reached over to his passenger seat and handed them a camouflage-colored bag. According to prosecutors, the bag contained a pistol, two loaded magazines, and a box of ammunition.

According to prosecutors, Thatcher then attempted a field sobriety test but failed it because he could not maintain his balance. Prosecutors said he admitted to drinking, agreed to take a portable breath test, and recorded a blood alcohol level of 0.17.

Officers took Thatcher into custody and brought him to Kent County Memorial Hospital in Warwick for evaluation.

Prosecutors said the 11-year-old girl fractured a bone in her forearm, as well as her spine.

Thatcher is scheduled to be arraigned in Kent County Superior Court on Friday.

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