Andrea Medeiros
amedeiros@abc6.com
Two drunk driving accidents happen early Saturday morning, and both times a state police cruiser was hit.
The first crash happened in Providence. Troopers, who were trying to help stop drunk drivers, ended up becoming victims themselves.
Officers said a drunk driver smashed into the passenger door of a Rhode Island State Police cruiser, and he didn't stop there. As he tried to get away, he struck the car again, spinning the cruiser around with two troopers inside. Another car was also hit.
"Obviously we arrest drunk drivers on a regular basis," said Lt. Paul J. Olszewski, "That's one of our priorities as law enforcement, and cruisers sometimes are struck as well as civilian vehicles."
Everyone made it out okay, but Lt. Olszewski said this problem is getting worse. DUI arrests this year are adding up to more than in years passed. That's partly why the state troopers were on Broad Street early Saturday morning . It's called the Neighborhood Response Team.
"It's an initiative we have with Providence Police, where a state police trooper is either paired up with a Providence police officer or we are traveling in our own car and we augment patrols in the city," said Lt. Olszewski.
They have the extra crews on the weekend, so drunk driving accidents don't happen to anyone else.
"Well, it's a concern everyone has, law enforcement throughout New England and the country," said Lt. Olszewski, "We are very cognizant of the dangers that are out there."
But unfortunately it can't always stop accidents from happening. Another police cruiser was hit on Route 195-West in Fall River a couple hours later. The trooper inside was protecting a construction crew. He complained of leg pain but it also okay.
Both drivers have been arrested and are facing DUI charges.
