DCYF determines maltreatment contributed to near fatalities of two-year-old and one-year-old after crash

Providence, R.I. (December 20, 2022) — The Department of Children, Youth & Families is disclosing the near fatality of a two-year-old child and a one-year-old child from Woonsocket who were involved in a head-on vehicle accident.

The Department had previous involvement with the family, but not at the time of the incident. The Department initiated an investigation and through this investigation, determined maltreatment contributed to these near fatalities.

A call came into dispatch just after 2:00 a.m. on October 29th for a multi-vehicle crash at Diamond Hill Road and Mendon Road in Woonsocket with 4 people injured in one vehicle, including an unresponsive toddler.

All 4 were transported to local hospitals.

21-year-old Erika Ahrens was taken into custody and arraigned on two counts each of DUI resulting in serious bodily injury, DUI with a passenger under 13, driving to endanger resulting in physical injury, and child endangerment. 21-year-old Trevor Pickering was also taken into custody for violating a no-contact order with Ahrens.

At the time of the crash, the 2-year-old was listed in critical condition and the 1-year-old was later released to DCYF custody.

Ahrens was released on $40,000 bail and took to social media shortly after the crash to ask for prayers for her 2-year-old son and to apologize for her actions.

“I know what I did, and I am so sorry to my babies. Please pray for my son Karter David Ahrens. He needs prayers. That’s it. Thank you.”