Driver in August Head-on Collision Will Be Arraigned Dec. 1

PORTSMOUTH, RI – Billey J. Dodd, the man who fell asleep at the wheel last Aug. 30 and struck two cars on West Main Road, will be charged with Reckless Driving and Driving under the Influence, Portsmouth police said.

The police have released a voluminous report on the crash, which describes the head-on collision and an accident scene that "spanned several hundred feet" and involved two trucks and a Nissan Sentra.

The two youngsters in the Sentra and their father were seriously injured in the crash. Bryan C. Babcock, of Middletown, was airlifted by medical helicopter to Rhode Island Hospital. His sons went by ambulance to Hasbro Children's Hospital.

Witnesses said Dodd, in a red Chevy Tahoe, was driving about 50 mph in the northbound lane on West Main Road when his car "drifted over" into the leftmost southbound lane. He sideswiped a maroon truck, a Chevy Silverado, and then continued in the wrong lane, ending up in a head-on collision with Babcock's gray sedan.

Dodd said he was falling asleep and wanted to stop at the Clock Tower to rest, but he fell asleep beforehand. He remembers waking up when he struck the Silverado, but although he did see the Nissan and attempted to steer away, it was too late.

Eyewitnesses said the impact was so hard, the rear end of Dodd's truck went up in the air.

According to Sgt. John D. Calhoon III, who wrote the report, all available officers went to the scene on West Main Road about one-quarter mile north of the intersection with King Charles Drive. He found a youth lying in the road. People were kneeling beside the boy and telling him to lie still and wait for help.

"There was no immediate care I could provide," the officer wrote. That youngster had signs of bruising along his collarbone and abdomen, consistent with seat belt use.

According to the report, passersby stopped and helped the young boy out of the Sentra. His father and brother remained trapped in the front seats of the car.

Both appeared to be in shock, police said.

On impact, the passenger side of the car had shifted to the rear, so the lower extremities of both the driver and his son were caught under the dashboard. The rescue workers used the Jaws of Life to extricate them.

The accident witnesses also helped the family's dog and removed him to their own car.

Later that night, Hasbro Children's Hospital called the police to inquire about Teddy, the family dog. The Labrador mix suffered shock, and his paw was bleeding. He was sent to an animal hospital and was released the next day to a family representative.

All three Babcock family members suffered life-threatening injuries.

Jonathan Kosior Barretto, of Portsmouth, the driver of the Silverado, suffered what appeared to be relatively minor injuries and was sent to Newport Hospital.

Dodd, who was not wearing a seat belt, appeared to have suffered a knee injury. Police initially cited him for failure to control his vehicle and driving in the wrong lane. After the investigation, authorities concluded there was no basis for felony charges.

Dodd was talking a prescription medicine at the time of the accident. One of the side effects is drowsiness. He told police he'd been taking the drug for some time and never experienced problems.

He is being charged with driving under the influence of drugs and reckless driving, police said.