Somerset man facing multiple charges after several injured, some seriously, in Rhode Island head-on crash

Portsmouth, RI (December 8, 2023)- A local man is facing multiple charges after a head-on crash resulted in several injuries.

According to police, on December 2, 2023, at approximately 7:43 p.m., the Portsmouth Police Department responded to and investigated a motor vehicle crash on West Main Road at the Mail Coach Road intersection involving three vehicles.

Upon arrival at the scene, officers observed that a blue Saab had two front-seat occupants with serious injuries. The injured parties were identified as 18-year-old David Menezes of Somerset, the operator, and a juvenile front-seat passenger. Both were extracted from the vehicle by the Portsmouth Fire Department. Two other juvenile passengers of the blue Saab, that had been seated in the back seat, were able to exit the vehicle and suffered what appeared to be minor injuries.

The investigation revealed that prior to the crash the blue Saab operated by Menezes was traveling behind a brown Honda in the left northbound lane of West Main Road. Menezes attempted to pass the Honda by entering the southbound lanes of West Main Road and then traveling against southbound traffic. The suspect vehicle then collided head-on with a gray Chevrolet that had been traveling in the left southbound lane of West Main Road. The force from the collision caused the gray Chevrolet to then crash into the brown Honda. The operators of the gray Chevrolet and the brown Honda suffered minor injuries.

At the scene Menezes exhibited multiple signs of alcohol impairment to include the strong odor of alcohol emanating from his breath. Within Menezes’ vehicle, officers observed multiple empty plastic “nip” alcohol containers along with marijuana. When Menezes was being treated for his injuries, officers observed more empty “nip” alcohol containers fall out of his pockets.

All involved with the crash were treated at the scene by the Portsmouth Fire Department and then transported to area hospitals.

On December 7, 2023, at approximately 5:30 p.m., David Menezes was arrested at the Portsmouth Police Department after turning himself in on a warrant obtained by the Detective Division.

Menezes was charged with Driving under the influence of liquor or drugs, resulting in serious bodily injury and Reckless driving.

Menezes was arraigned by a justice of the peace and released after posting bail that had been set at $5,500.00 with surety. Menezes will be formally arraigned at the 2nd Division District Court on December 14, 2023.