East Providence police identify victim of fatal crash

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The victim of a fatal car crash that left one man with multiple charges was identified Monday.

According to police, 20-year-old Ariana Roody, of Woonsocket was killed when 20-year-old Chaz Gagnon allegedly crashed his car on Veterans Memorial Parkway early Sunday morning.

Officials said at 1 a.m. Sunday, officers arrived at the crash and found a white Kia sedan with heavy front-end damage.

The driver was identified as Gagnon and the passenger was identified as Roody. Both sustained serious injuries in the crash and were taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where Roody later died.

Police say that several minutes before the crash, officers were investigating a suspicious car in the parking lot of the Bullocks Point Village apartment complex.

During the investigation, Gagnon provided a fake name to police and fled the parking lot, driving over an island divider and a curb. Officers did not pursue Gagnon because of heavy fog.

Gagnon is now charged with driving to endanger, death resulting , reckless driving and eluding police, obstructing an officer, and three counts of being a fugitive from justice.

He was held without bail and is still in police custody at Rhode Island Hospital, recovering from his injuries.

The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.