UPDATE: Providence teen identified in North Smithfield’s Slatersville Reservoir drowning

July 19, 2016 11:57 pm

By Kirsten Glavin & Ana Bottary

kglavin@abc6.com, abottary@abc6.com

@kirstenglavin, @anabottary

NORTH SMITHFIELD- A Providence family devastated, after 19 year old David Pinthiere died after jumping off of railroad trestles with friends at Slatersville pond.

"He’s my big brother, my only brother. I feel like I’m in a dream and I’m trying to wake up. It’s a nightmare," says Davids younger brother, Daniel Pinthiere.

Daniel says his brother David, was a student at CCRI, who was constantly striving to better himself. He tells us he recently reached a mile-stone losing about 100 pounds. He describes David as a role model, and a best friend.

"He’s the older brother so I looked at him like he’s the second man of the house he helped my mom out with the bills and everything."

Pinthiere reportedly jumped off of the trestle, and into the water. Not long after, he stared screaming for help. His friends tried to assist, but he went under and drowned.

People have to walk about a half a mile to get up to the trestle, but police say coming up here is considered trespassing.

"It’s private property, it’s owned by a residence in that area. It’s a trespassing misdemeanor crime to be on that property…it’s an old trestle bridge abutment that’s about 30 ft above water line and anyone that goes up there to jump off it’s a very dangerous situations," says Captain Tim Lafferty of the North Smithfield Police Department.

Captain Lafferty says this is not the first drowning to occur in the area.

"In 2011 we had a drowning at the lower dam which is the same body of water just a different section with a different structure people would jump off of into the water. It’s problematic, it’s dangerous; we just wish no one would go there," adds Captain Lafferty.

North Smithfield police say they are currently in the process of putting up more signage as well as fencing to make sure people are aware they are not allowed there.