Bicyclist Hurt in Ocean Avenue Confrontation with Pickup Truck

NEWPORT, RI—Jeffrey Bucci, 36, of Portsmouth, was charged on April 18 at 7:27 p.m., with three misdemeanors after he allegedly slammed the brakes on his pickup truck and caused a bicyclist to crash into his tailgate. The accident happened on Ocean Avenue near 'Wildacre' around 5:06 p.m. According to police, Bucci sped off after the crash but was located in Portsmouth, where police in that Town said he faces additional charges.

Newport police charged him with reckless driving; duty to stop; and disorderly conduct. According to the arrest report, he allegedly "yelled profanities and made threatening statements while driving in an aggressive and dangerous manner."

Witnesses said a group of bicyclists were riding in a line on the right side of Ocean Avenue and behind two vehicles, a vintage car and Bucci's silver pickup truck. The vintage car slowed down to allow the bicycles to pass. Bucci slowed down, too, but then sped up, overtook the bicyclists on the left and stopped suddenly.

The witnesses said "words were exchanged," but the bicyclists managed to avoid a collision. But then Bucci, in the silver Tacoma, swerved into the middle of the road and hit his brakes hard again, witnesses allege. That time, the bicyclist behind the truck crashed into the truck's rear end. The victim suffered minor injuries when his face hit the tailgate. Bucci allegedly sped away toward Brenton Point. One of the cyclists, wearing a camera on his helmet, may have caught the entire incident on video, police said.