State Police: One of the deadliest Labor Day weekends after three dead

September 2, 2018 7:48 pm

By: Amanda Pitts

alpitts@abc6.com

@AmandaPittsTV

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — Rhode Island State Police are calling this one of the deadliest Labor Day weekends they’ve ever seen after three people lost their lives on the roads in just 12 hours.

The first death occurred Saturday night just before 11 p.m. when two motorcycles collided with an SUV on I-95 North near the I-295 exit ramp in Warwick.

Dervi Pena, 34, of Providence, was thrown from his motorcycle and was pronounced dead at Kent Hospital. The operator of the other motorcycle sustained non-life threatening injuries. Police say a third motorcycle crashed when trying to avoid the collision. He sustained non-life threatening injuries.

Sunday morning around 10:30 a.m., a 31-year-old Stoughton man died after losing control of his motorcycle on I-95 South near Exit 27 in Pawtucket. He was pronounced dead at Rhode Island Hospital.

A half hour later, just after 11 a.m., the third fatality of the weekend occurred. On Route 6 West near the I-295 South onramp in Johnston, a 26-year-old Scituate man died after his SUV rear-ended a parked construction vehicle, then caught fire. Police say he was not wearing a seatbelt. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

State Police are urging people to look out for each other on the roads, saying that’s the best way to prevent any more fatalities.

"We all have to cooperate on the road. Whether you’re in a big car, small car, if you’re on a motorcycle, if you’re in a Porsche, or if you’re in a beat up car, it doesn’t matter. We all have to cooperate and work together," said Seargent Greg Cunningham.

Sgt. Cunningham added that it’s important to keep four things in mind this holiday weekend and beyond; Don’t speed, don’t drive impaired, wear a seatbelt and don’t be distracted.

State Police have assigned additional troopers to patrol for the rest of the weekend. Since Thursday, they’ve arrived ten people for driving while intoxicated and have issues over 200 citations.

Statewide, as of this past Friday, there have been 35 motor vehicle fatalities so far this year. Seventeen of those in vehicles, thirteen on motorcycles, four pedestrians, and one bicyclist.

Police encourage anyone who sees someone driving unsafe to call 911.