Rhode Island man arraigned on 8 charges in Fall River concerning Bristol County crash that killed 2 men

A Cranston, Rhode Island man was arraigned in Fall River Superior Court on Wednesday in a double fatal Bristol County crash.

According to Jennifer Sowa of the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, on August 28th at approximately 4:00 p.m., Massachusetts State Police were called regarding a motor vehicle crash on Route 95 North in North Attleborough.

Upon arrival, State Police Troopers located two vehicles on Route 95 North in the area of mile marker 7. One, a black sedan with extensive damage making the vehicle almost unrecognizable and second, a white SUV with heavy front-end damage.

The driver of the black sedan, identified as 58-year-old Randall Ricketts of Foxborough, MA was transported from the scene to Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro with significant trauma. Ricketts was pronounced deceased shortly after his arrival at the hospital.

The driver of the white SUV, 61-year-old James E. Griffin Jr. of Providence was transported to Rhode Island Hospital with significant injury and succumbed to those injuries on October 6th.

Based upon an investigation by the State Police it is alleged that a third vehicle, a grey sedan, operating on 95 South, made contact with the white SUV causing the white SUV to cross the median into the 95 North bound lanes and crash head on with the black sedan operated by Ricketts. 50-year-old Joseph Pompei was located by Troopers, with a grey sedan, a short distance from the crash scene.

Based upon the investigation conducted by the Massachusetts State Police, 50-year-old Joseph Pompei of Cranston was arrested and faces 8 charges including two counts of Motor Vehicle Homicide by Negligent Operation, two counts of Leaving the Scene of Personal Injury/Death and two counts of Leaving the Scene of an Accident-Causing Personal Injury.

Pompei pleaded not guilty to all charges and was given a $50,000 cash bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for February 16, 2024.