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Irregular News for 04.19.06
Pawtucket, RI -- A 19-year-old man was arraigned Monday in Providence District Court on charges related to a fatal accident on Interstate 95 in which a North Attleboro man died.
Eliezer Benitez, of Manville, R.I., was charged with duty to stop for accident, death resulting and failing to have auto insurance, according to Rhode Island State Police. Benitez allegedly told police he fled the scene after the accident about 5 p.m. Saturday because he had no insurance on his car and panicked.
Robert Strang, 64, of 21 Summer St., North Attleboro, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident on I-95 South near Lonsdale Avenue.
Although authorities initially thought that Strang chased after the other vehicle following a collision, state police now say Strang rear-ended Benitez's vehicle. After the collision, Strang's car crashed into concrete barriers before coming to rest.
Strang was not wearing a seat belt and suffered head injuries in the accident, police said.
But Rhode Island State Police Capt. Raymond White said Strang could have been stricken by a medical problem before the crash, based on observations from witnesses and Benitez.
The exact cause of death will not be known until after the Rhode Island medical examiner's office completes an autopsy.
Witnesses told police that Strang was traveling erratically at a high rate of speed before the collision.
Benitez told police that Strang appeared slumped over the wheel prior to the accident, investigators said.
After the accident, Benitez stopped and walked back to Strang's vehicle, apparently to check on his condition, but quickly returned to his vehicle and left the scene, police allege.
Benitez was tracked down through his vehicle's license plate number. The bumper of his vehicle and the license plate fell off after the accident, police said.
He was arrested about 2 p.m. Sunday after an investigation by troopers in the Lincoln Woods barracks.
After his arraignment in Providence District Court, Benitez was taken to Providence Superior Court for an alleged probation violation because of a previous conviction for credit card fraud, police said.
source
Pawtucket, RI -- A 19-year-old man was arraigned Monday in Providence District Court on charges related to a fatal accident on Interstate 95 in which a North Attleboro man died.
Eliezer Benitez, of Manville, R.I., was charged with duty to stop for accident, death resulting and failing to have auto insurance, according to Rhode Island State Police. Benitez allegedly told police he fled the scene after the accident about 5 p.m. Saturday because he had no insurance on his car and panicked.
Robert Strang, 64, of 21 Summer St., North Attleboro, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident on I-95 South near Lonsdale Avenue.
Although authorities initially thought that Strang chased after the other vehicle following a collision, state police now say Strang rear-ended Benitez's vehicle. After the collision, Strang's car crashed into concrete barriers before coming to rest.
Strang was not wearing a seat belt and suffered head injuries in the accident, police said.
But Rhode Island State Police Capt. Raymond White said Strang could have been stricken by a medical problem before the crash, based on observations from witnesses and Benitez.
The exact cause of death will not be known until after the Rhode Island medical examiner's office completes an autopsy.
Witnesses told police that Strang was traveling erratically at a high rate of speed before the collision.
Benitez told police that Strang appeared slumped over the wheel prior to the accident, investigators said.
After the accident, Benitez stopped and walked back to Strang's vehicle, apparently to check on his condition, but quickly returned to his vehicle and left the scene, police allege.
Benitez was tracked down through his vehicle's license plate number. The bumper of his vehicle and the license plate fell off after the accident, police said.
He was arrested about 2 p.m. Sunday after an investigation by troopers in the Lincoln Woods barracks.
After his arraignment in Providence District Court, Benitez was taken to Providence Superior Court for an alleged probation violation because of a previous conviction for credit card fraud, police said.
source