Distracted driver causes three vehicle crash in Westport

A distracted driver caused a three vehicle crash in Westport causing injury.

According to Detective Jeff Majewski, on August 23rd at approximately 8:00 p.m. the Westport Police responded to the area of 519 American Legion Highway for a three car crash with injuries caused by a distracted driver. Officers discovered all three vehicles were headed west on the highway. One vehicle (Honda Accord) was preparing to make a left turn and a second vehicle (Dodge Ram pickup) was slowing down when a third vehicle headed west at a high rate of speed in a VW Jetta and failed to slow for the vehicles in front of it.

The Jetta sideswiped the Honda and caused extensive rear damage and undercarriage damage when it went underneath the truck and propelled it approximately 160 feet forward into a telephone pole which moved the base of the pole two feet. The driver of the truck had been unconscious due to the force of the impact. The 70-year-old pickup operator was transported by the Westport Fire Department Ambulance to RI Hospital. A 10-year-old female in the Honda was safely secured in a child seat and was not injured. The Jetta driver was identified as David Bergeron-Keefe, 41 of Tiverton, RI. He told police he looked away from the road to check his I-Pod and didn’t know what else caused the crash. Officer Cody Smith located an open bottle of Whiskey inside the Jetta.

Bergeron-Keefe was issued a criminal citation for Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Having an Open Container of Alcohol and Impeded Operation of a Vehicle.