Pawtucket man convicted in wrong-way DUI crash sentenced to state prison

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WLNE) – A Pawtucket man has been sentenced six to nine years in state prison after a wrong-way DUI crash that killed a woman in Mansfield, Massachusetts, two years ago.

The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office says Gonsahn Kamara, 37, pleaded guilty to several charges in Fall River Superior Court earlier this month.

Kamara was charged with Manslaughter While Operating Under the Influence, Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle and Operating Under the Influence-2nd Offense.

On May 7, 2022, police received reports of a serious crash at 2:50 a.m. on Route 495 in Mansfield.

Upon arrival, officers found Kerrie Dolbashian unresponsive in her car, which had sustained major damage as a result of the collision. She was pronounced dead on-scene.

Kamara was extracted from his vehicle by firefighters before being taken via helicopter to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston for medical treatment.

Officials say his blood alcohol content registered at more than double the legal limit.

An investigation revealed that Kamara was traveling south in the northbound lane of Route 495 with his lights off when he struck Dolbashian’s vehicle head-on.

“This senseless tragedy will impact the victim’s family and friends for the rest of their lives,” said Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn. “If someone is too drunk to drive, there are other options to get home other than driving drunk and endangering the lives of other people.”

During a sentencing hearing, authorities say Assistant District Attorney Catherine Sauter sought a seven to 10-and-a-half year state prison sentence, while Kamara requested five to seven years.