Second man dies from injuries sustained in Bristol County highway crash

A second person has died concerning a highway crash that took place in Bristol County.

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 charged with Motor Vehicle Homicide by Negligent Operation, Leaving the Scene of an Accident Death Resulting and two counts of the Leaving the Scene of an Accident-Causing Personal Injury.

It is currently unclear if Pompei will face additional charges after Griffin’s death.

According to an obituary, Griffin served 17-years as a member of the Rhode Island State Police. Upon his retirement from RISP, Griffin became an international security expert who provided security for clients including former U.S. Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III, the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Drake, and other award-winning hip-hop, R&B and rap artists.

Griffin’s visitation will be held on Friday evening from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Nardolillo Funeral Home 1278 Park Avenue, Cranston. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Church, Mendon Road, Cumberland. His burial will be private.