Driver in Thursday's Crash at Salve Still in Serious Condition

As of Friday morning, all four of the Salve Regina students from Long Island who were involved in Thursday morning's crash near the Breakers mansion are still at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence.

A patient information representative said Michael Canning, 19, of Massapequa, NY, is listed in serious condition. The driver of the vehicle, Canning was suffered broken ribs and internal injuries.

Passenger Christopher Connors, 19, of Garden City, NY, was listed in fair condition after sustaining a broken leg and pelvic bone from the crash. Another passenger, Ian Cadzin, 19, of East Rockaway, NY, was listed in fair condition, having suffered a broken femur. Christopher Wands, 19,  of Port Washington, NY, who suffered two broken femurs, was listed in fair condition.

Newport Police say detectives plan to return to Rhode Island Hospital Friday to interview the victims. The men were all headed into surgery when detectives arrived on Thursday.

Lt. William Fitzgerald told Patch that police do have some idea of where the men were coming from before the crash, but that they're still performing interviews to piece together the story.

"We're doing a complete investigation to ascertain what caused the accident," Fitzgerald said. "All factors are being looked upon, including speed. We need to investigate what the operator was doing prior to the incident."

Detectives from the department's Criminal Investigation Division spent all day Thursday interviewing witnesses and plan to continue Friday.

Police spent Thursday morning on the scene reconstructing the accident, from which they determined that their red Hyundai SUV traveled east on Victoria Avenue, ran up on the right curb, then crashed into the left wall just outside the gate of the Breakers mansion.

Salve Regina University has organized a prayer vigil for the victims, to be held at 8 p.m. Friday at Our Lady of Mercy Chapel, corner of Ochre Point and Leroy avenues.