One man seriously injured and facing several charges after fatal crash in East Providence

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI – One woman is dead, and a man is seriously injured after a morning crash.

According to police, on Sunday, East Providence Police responded to the area of Veterans Memorial Parkway and Crowne Avenue for a report of a motor vehicle crash.

Once on scene, officers observed a white Kia sedan with heavy front-end damage. The operator was identified as 20-year-old Chaz Gagnon of Pawtucket, RI. Gagnon sustained serious injuries to his lower body. A female passenger in the front seat was unconscious and also sustained serious injuries. Both Gagnon and the female passenger were transported to Rhode Island Hospital by rescue. The female passenger later died at the hospital.

Several minutes prior to the crash, patrol officers were investigating a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of the Bullocks Point Village apartment complex. During the investigation, Gagnon provided a false name to police officers and fled the parking lot, driving over an island divider and curbing before fleeing the scene. A description of the vehicle was broadcast to other units. The officers did not pursue the vehicle due to heavy fog and the unknown nature of the offenses or if warrants existed.

Gagnon is currently in police custody at the hospital and is listed in serious condition. He faces the charges of Driving to Endanger, Death Resulting, Reckless Driving/Eluding Police, Obstructing an Officer in Execution of Duty, and three counts of Fugitive From Justice.

The department’s Traffic Division and Crash Reconstruction Investigators are investigating the crash. Additional charges are possible as the investigation continues. The identity of the female passenger is being withheld until notifications have been made.