Bristol County man charged after serious injuries in wrong-way highway crash

A driver has been charged after a serious wrong-way highway crash caused serious injuries.

According to Rhode Island State Police, on Thursday, at approximately 10:00 p.m., members of the State Police Lincoln Woods Barracks responded to E911 calls for a wrong-way driver traveling south in the northbound lanes of Route 95 in the City of Pawtucket. The vehicle was reported as a white SUV. As Troopers responded to the area, they located a three-car accident at the Barbara Leonard Way overpass in the City of Providence. One of the vehicles was the white SUV.

Upon investigation, Troopers determined that the white SUV was traveling south in the high-speed lane of Route 95 North when just south of Branch Avenue, the white SUV struck a vehicle head-on, continued, and then struck a second vehicle. Providence Fire and Rescue transported the operator of the white SUV, identified as 39-year-old Matthew E. Fisher of Attleboro, Massachusetts.

The operator and passenger of the vehicle that was hit head-on were transported to Rhode Island Hospital along with Fisher. 

Fisher was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Liquor – Serious Injury (Blood Results Pending), Reckless Driving, Driving to Endanger – Resulting in Serious Injury.

Fisher was held at Rhode Island Hospital and summoned to appear at 6^th District Court on April 11, 2024.