Rhode Island man facing multiple charges after motor vehicle crash seriously injures pedestrian

Attorney General Peter Neronha announced that a Woonsocket man has been charged in Providence County Superior Court with multiple driving offenses including Driving Under the Influence resulting in serious bodily injury following his arrest by the Woonsocket Police on July 12, 2023.

Last month, the Office of the Attorney General charged 34-year-old Brian Morton by way of criminal information, with one count of DUI resulting in serious bodily injury, one count of driving to endanger resulting in serious bodily injury, and one count of driving a vehicle without the consent of the owner or lessee.

As alleged in the criminal information, on July 12 at approximately 9:35 p.m., Woonsocket Police responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash on Front Street involving a pedestrian. When they arrived on scene, first responders were treating the victim, who was laying on her back in the street. Several witnesses pointed police toward Morton, who was standing across the street, and identified him as the operator of the vehicle that struck the victim.

When investigators spoke with Morton, he allegedly told them that he collided with the pedestrian after pulling onto Front Street. While speaking with him, investigators allegedly smelled alcohol on his breath and observed his eyes to be bloodshot and glossy.

Following these observations, investigators asked Morton to perform field sobriety tests and determined that the defendant showed signs of impairment. At that time, police detained him.

As the investigation progressed, police spoke with the owner of the vehicle, who told them that Morton was his employee and that he did not have permission to operate the owner’s vehicle.

Morton is scheduled for a pre-arraignment conference on November 29, 2023, in Providence County Superior Court.