Massachusetts man arrested on several charges, held without bail, in fatal rollover crash on Route 104

Bridgewater Police Chief Christopher D. Delmonte reports that the Bridgewater Police Department has arrested and charged a man following a fatal motor vehicle crash early Monday morning.

At approximately 12:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 6, the Bridgewater Police Department received reports of a motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Pleasant Street (Route 104) and Elm Street.

Upon arrival, officers found a heavily damaged 2017 Jeep Wrangler laying on its side in the eastbound lanes of Pleasant Street. Officers then observed a man with obvious trauma who had been partially ejected from the vehicle. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. He was identified as the operator of the Jeep, Philip Smith, age 64, of Bridgewater.

Officers also observed a 2012 Honda Pilot with heavy front end damage in the middle of the intersection. The operator of the vehicle, later identified as 47-year-old Emmanuel Desrosiers, of Stoughton, had visible head and facial injuries, and was conscious and talking with officers. He was treated at the scene by Bridgewater Fire Department paramedics and transported by ambulance to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton.

An initial investigation shows that the Jeep Wrangler was traveling west on Pleasant Street and was stopped at a red light at the intersection with Elm Street. Desrosiers was allegedly also traveling west on Pleasant Street in the Honda Pilot and hit the rear of the Jeep with speed, causing the Jeep to spin and flip over. The Honda continued into the intersection, striking a light pole.

As a result of the investigation, Bridgewater Police obtained an arrest warrant for Desrosiers. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Bridgewater Police station for booking.

Desrosiers was charged with Motor Vehicle Homicide, Operating Under the Influence of Liquor, Operating Under the Influence of Liquor, Causing Serious Injury, Operating Under the Influence of Liquor Second Offense, Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Marked Lanes Violation, and Speed Greater than Reasonable.

Desrosiers was arraigned in Brockton District Court on Monday and is being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Friday, Dec. 10.

The incident remains under investigation by Bridgewater Police Officers Christopher Paze and Ryan O’Connell and Detectives Kevin Kearns, Jacob Poulin and Peter Balboni. Bridgewater Police were assisted by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, Crime Scene Unit and detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office.