Additional charges filed for driver of triple-fatal Pawtucket crash
By: News Staff
Email: news@abc6.com
Twitter: @ABC6
PAWTUCKET, R.I. — The driver charged for the crash that killed three women back on April 7th, was arraigned on three additional charges of DUI- death resulting, says Major Tina Goncalves of the Pawtucket Police Department.
Police say additional charges were filed for 21-year-old James Belanger, of Pawtucket, after toxicology reports showed he had a blood alcohol content of .139 and proved there was marijuana and cocaine in his system at the time of the crash.
Belanger is believed to have caused the crash that took the lives of Fatima Rosa, 22, Emily Howell, 20, and Theresa Leary, 24, of West Warwick.
All three women were ejected from the vehicle, after the car they were in struck a telephone pole on Walcott Street and split in half authorities say.
The crash occurred around 12:15 a.m.; Belanger survived the crash and fled the scene.
He was found a half a mile down the road in the area of George Bennet Way and Division Street; with bloodshot eyes, smelling of alcohol, and blood on his clothing.
The male in the passenger seat survived and fled the scene as well. He was located quickly by Pawtucket and taken to the hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Belanger was found with 1.1 grams of cocaine and 15.1 grams of marijuana on his person at the time of the crash, and was initially arraigned from his hospital bed on the following felony charges:
- 3 counts of duty to stop, death resulting.
- 3 counts of driving to endanger, death resulting.
- 1 count possession of cocaine.
- 1 count of driving while in possession of a controlled substance.
Strongly believing alcohol was a factor, Pawtucket Police told ABC6 News depending on the outcome of a toxicology report, they would move forward with DUI death resulting charges.
With toxicology results in, Belanger was arraigned Friday afternoon and held on $50,000 bail.
©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2017
