RI State Police arrest 3 for DUI, 2 in wrong way crashes

Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Director of the Department of Public Safety, announces that two people were charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs after they were involved in separate crashes while driving the wrong way on the highway overnight. No one was seriously injured in either crash.

“The actions of those wrong-way drivers created an extremely dangerous situation for every person on the road last night,” Colonel Assumpico said. “Given all of the celebrations taking place this weekend, with proms, graduations, Mother’s Day and other events, we are extremely fortunate that no one was killed or seriously injured as a result.”

Colonel Assumpico noted that a third person also was charged with DUI in a separate, unrelated incident overnight. “There is simply no excuse for anyone to be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” she said. “We have zero tolerance for people who drive while impaired or those who operate their vehicles in a dangerous manner that endangers the lives of others. We will arrest any motorist who selfishly decides to put others in harm’s way by doing that.”

The first wrong-way crash last night was reported at approximately 7:20 p.m. on Route 4 in East Greenwich, where a motorist was heading north in the high-speed southbound lane. It crashed into another car travelling south in the high-speed lane.

The operator, identified as Corey Stott Miller, age 28, of 276 Weeden St., Pawtucket, was arrested and charged with:
• Driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor and/or drugs, first offense, B.A.C. unknown
• Driving so as to endanger, resulting in physical injury
• Refusal to submit to a chemical test

Miller was treated at Kent County Hospital for minor injuries. The driver and a passenger in the car that was struck by Miller’s vehicle were treated at South County Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and later released.

The second crash involving a wrong-way driver was reported at approximately 2 a.m. today, after State Police received numerous 911 calls for a wrong-way driver heading south on the northbound lanes of Interstate 95. The wrong-way driver sideswiped a car as it headed into Warwick before crashing in the high-speed lane near Jefferson Boulevard.

The operator, identified as Cameron Wambolt, age 25, of 306 Washington Street, West Warwick, was arrested and charged with:
• Driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor and/or drugs with a B.A.C. of .15 or greater (Phase I – .187; Phase II – .197)
• Driving so as to endanger, resulting in physical injury

Wambolt was not injured in the crash. Two people in the car struck by Wambolt’s vehicle were treated at Rhode Island Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and later released.

In a third, unrelated incident, Troopers also arrested Tommy Price, age 43 of 110 B. Columbia Heights Road, Charlestown, after stopping his vehicle on Interstate 95 in Warwick. Price was charged with:
• Driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor and/or drugs, first arrest, B.A.C. unknown
• Refusal to submit to a chemical test