Man sentence to 5 years in prison for road-rage death (R.I.)

[TowZone]

Woonsocket man sentenced to 5 years in prison for road-rage death

 

PROVIDENCE — A 43-year-old Woonsocket man last week was sentenced to serve five years in prison for causing a road-rage crash that killed one man and seriously injured another.

 

Following a trial in Superior Court, Mitchell Savard was found guilty Nov. 1 of driving to endanger resulting in death and serious bodily injury in the death of Erik Salazar, 22, of Brooklyn, New York.

 

Andy Salgado, 23, also of Brooklyn, was injured in the crash.

 

The crash happened on Route 295 in Johnston on the morning of March 30, 2017.

 

According to the police, Savard was driving north in the high-speed lane when he switched into the middle lane, cutting off a tow truck. The tow-truck driver honked and Savard began to continually apply his brakes before coming to a complete stop on the highway, the police said.

 

Savard’s sudden braking caused other cars to brake or swerve to avoid collisions. The driver of tow truck, Trevor Armstrong, 28, of Bristol, Connecticut, slammed on his brakes, but the box truck behind him, driven by Salazar, wasn’t able to stop in time.

 

The box truck crashed into the tow truck. Salazar was killed and Selgado was hospitalized in critical condition for days.

 

Armstrong suffered minor injuries. Savard did not report injuries.

 

In the wake of the crash, the state police received numerous 911 calls from drivers. Investigators said those calls proved critical in piecing together the events.

 

Savard faced up to 15 years in prison.

 

Superior Court Justice Maureen B. Keough on Friday sentenced him to 10 years with five years to serve and 5 years suspended, plus 10 years of probation on one count of reckless driving, death resulting.

 

He also received five years suspended and five years of probation on one count of reckless driving, serious bodily injury resulting.

 

The sentences will run concurrently.

 

Keough ordered that Savard lose his license for three years following his release from prison.

 

RESOURCE LINK

 

ORIGINAL NEWS STORY: March 31, 2017

 

JOHNSTON, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island State Police say a driver was killed and two people were injured in a three-car crash on Interstate 295.

The chain-reaction crash happened Thursday morning near the Johnston-Smithfield border. Police say it appeared that a sedan, tow truck and box truck were traveling on I-295 northbound in the center lane when they collided in a series of rear-end crashes.

Police say the driver of the box truck was pronounced dead at the hospital. He wasn’t identified. A passenger suffered injuries considered life-threatening.

Police say the driver of the tow truck suffered non-life-threatening injuries and the driver of the sedan declined to be taken to the hospital.

Police are investigating the events that led up to the crash. They say alcohol and drugs don’t appear to be factors.

RESOURCE LINK

 

ADDED by Team251 April 6, 2017:

 

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WPRI) — Investigators believe it was road rage that led to a fatal crash on I-295 last week and have arrested one of the drivers as a result.

Rhode Island State Police officials announced Wednesday they’ve charged Mitchell Savard in connection with the three-vehicle crash in Johnston on March 30 that left one man dead and two others with injuries.

According to police, the investigation revealed Savard was traveling northbound in the high-speed lane just before 10 a.m. when he made a lane change, cutting off a tow truck behind him. Police said the tow truck driver sounded his horn and in response, Savard repeatedly tapped his brakes before abruptly stopping in the center lane.

The tow truck was forced to make an abrupt stop as well, according to police, but a box truck behind it was unable to stop and struck the rear of the tow truck, which then struck Savard’s vehicle.

The two occupants of the box truck – Erik Salazar and Andy Salgado, both 23 and of Brooklyn – were seriously injured in the crash. Salazar succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at Rhode Island Hospital while Salgado remains in critical condition at the hospital.

Police said the tow truck driver, identified as 28-year-old Trevor Armstrong of Bristol, Connecticut, suffered minor injuries, while Savard was reportedly unhurt.

Savard, 41, of Woonsocket, was arrested Wednesday at his Park Avenue home and charged with driving to endanger resulting in death, and two counts of driving to endanger resulting in personal injury.

“Aggressive driving and road rage pose a deadly risk to every motorist in Rhode Island,” State Police Col. Ann Assumpico said in a statement. “We take this threat very seriously, and we will remain vigilant in the prosecution of any driver who puts others at risk.”

Savard is expected to appear in court Wednesday for arraignment.

http://wpri.com/2017/04/05/police-road- ... r-charged/

[Alstow]

5 years for causing a death from his stupidity??????

What about the family that has lost a loved one forever, 5 years just isn't enough....

[Moose]

Never enough for a tow operators life, which few seem to value till they need one of us in a hurry. Then they expect us to respond like a first responder and not the service provider we actually are 98% of the time.