Woman Drinking In Bristol Before Crash, Catapult Onto Tiverton Beach, Police Say

charged a Massachusetts woman with drunk driving resulting in serious bodily injury following a that resulted in a Jeep Cherokee flying over a seawall and landing on .

Karisa Alyse King, 19, of Clayton Mill Road, Southfield, MA, was arrested at 1:40 p.m., Friday, May 25. She is being charged with driving under the influence resulting in serious bodily injury (first offense). She is scheduled for arraignment in on Thursday, June 7.

On April 29, Tiverton police responded to the intersection of Main Road and Narragansett Avenue in Stone Bridge for a report of a motor vehicle accident involving serious injuries, said Lt. Patrick Jones. Upon arrival officers saw a 2005 Chevy Cavalier operated by a Dania Whitaker, 51, of Tiverton, in the middle of Main Road. Jone said the Chevy had sustained severe front end damage. 

Officers located a second vehicle, a 2002 Jeep Cherokee operated by King, on Grinnell’s Beach. Jones said the vehicle appeared to have rolled over several times before coming to a stop on the beach.

Jones said an investigation of the accident revealed Whitaker’s Chevy was traveling south on Main Road, and King's Jeep was traveling north on Main Road, at which time King’s vehicle crossed the double yellow line into the southbound lane, striking Whitaker head on. King’s Jeep reportedly continued travellng over the sidewalk, and over the three-foot seawall separating the roadway from Grinnell’s Beach. The Jeep then rolled over several times before coming to rest on the beach. 

The drivers of both vehicles were transported to Rhode Island Hospital by Tiverton Rescue. Whitaker was released from the hospital with several broken bones and fractures, and King reportedly received minor cuts and scrapes.

Jones said investigating officers later learned that King had been drinking alcohol at in Bristol, where she is a student. She then left the school and apparently became lost, eventually traveling into Tiverton.

Officers obtained a search warrant for King’s blood from Rhode Island Hospital, Jones said. The blood was later tested at the Rhode Island Department of Health laboratories, and test results revealed King had a blood alcohol level of .132 the of the accident. 

The accident was investigated by Officer Warren Caldwell and Detective Brendan McKinnon.