Rhode Island teen seriously injured in collision on anniversary of father’s suicide, online fundraiser created

A Rhode Island teen is in a coma and battling multiple injuries after a collision with a vehicle.

According to police, on Tuesday, at approximately 9:45 p.m., officers were dispatched to the area of 840 Post Road in Warwick for the report of a motor vehicle accident.

Officers arrived on scene to find a crash involving a car and minibike which occurred in the left northbound lane. The operator of the car, a 31-year-old man, was uninjured. The operator of the minibike, a juvenile male, was found lying in the southbound lane exhibiting signs of serious injuries. He was transported to Hasbro Children’s Hospital by rescue. 

The Warwick Police Traffic Unit’s Accident Reconstruction Team responded to the scene and based off their initial investigation, which lent to several witnesses, learned that the car had been traveling north on Post Road after stopping for a red light, and was approaching the Truck Route entrance to Walmart, when three juveniles on gas and electric powered mini bikes exited against the one-way entrance onto Post Road while turning left in front of the approaching car. The car struck the first, gas-powered, minibike, sending the juvenile into the southbound lane, before coming to a stop in close proximity to the area of impact.

According to a GoFundMe fundraiser, on the 12-year anniversary of his father’s passing to suicide, the 15-year-old juvenile minibike rider has had aortic repair, chest tube, and a damaged spleen. He has more surgeries to come. His right leg is going to require multiple surgeries due to the amount of bone loss. His left ankle needs surgery as well which will be done with screws and plates. Right now, he’s in a medically induced coma and he is not out of the woods yet.

Speed was reportedly not a factor for the driver of the car and no charges are pending against the driver at this time.