Rhode Island man arrested for DUI after crash 75 minutes after being released from arrest for DUI after crash

A Rhode Island man is facing several charges after two alleged DUI crashes within a few hours of each other.

According to police, on Wednesday, at 3:46 pm., members of the Smithfield Police Department were dispatched to the area of 615 Putnam Pike for a reported traffic collision with non-life-threatening injuries.

On scene, the calling party stated that after her vehicle was struck, she had a small verbal exchange with the male operator. Prior to police arrival, the male fled the area without exchanging information.

The male who fled the scene was later identified as Thomas Garbecki, age 46, from Greenville, RI. Garbecki was located at his residence with the suspect vehicle in the driveway. Officers subsequently conducted standardized field sobriety testing on Garbecki. He was taken into custody and charged with DUI 1st Offense B.A.C. Unknown, Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test – 2nd Offense, Duty to Stop – Accident Resulting in Personal Injury, and Driving with a Suspended License 2nd Offense. At 5:38 p.m., Garbecki was released into the care of a family member with a summons to appear in District Court on October 17, 2023.

At 6:54 p.m., police responded to 20 Steere Road for the report of a vehicle driving erratically and then striking a parked, unattended vehicle in the roadway. The suspect vehicle left behind the front registration plate.

After a brief investigation, it was learned that the operator of the suspect vehicle was Thomas Garbecki, the same party involved in the collision nearly three hours earlier. Officers again conducted standardized field. sobriety testing. Garbecki was taken into custody and charged with DUI 1st Offense – B.A.C. Unknown, Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test – 2nd Offense, and Driving with a Suspended License 2nd Offense. Garbecki was also issued several citations, including Leaving the Scene of an Accident and Collision with an Unattended Vehicle. Garbecki was arraigned before Bail Commissioner David Ursillo, released on $2,000 personal recognizance, and then transported by Smithfield Rescue to Fatima Hospital for alcohol detox.