Grand jury indicts man in connection to fatal Lincoln New Year’s Eve crash

LINCOLN, R.I. (WLNE) — A grand jury indicted a Massachusetts man in connection to a fatal New Year’s Eve crash last year that left a man dead and another injured in Lincoln.

Christopher Vincent, of Watertown, was charged with the following:

• One count of DUI resulting in death
• One count of DUI resulting in serious bodily injury
• One count of driving to endanger resulting in death
• One count of driving to endanger resulting in serious bodily injury
• One count of possession of a controlled substance (10 grams or less)

The crash happened just before 2:30 a.m. on Dec. 31, 2022, on Route 146 north.

Rhode Island State Police said that Vincent, who was driving a 2016 black Acura, lost control and hit a barrier.

Attorney General Peter Nerohna said the front seat passenger was thrown from the car and taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where they died. The backseat passenger broke a hip and several vertebrae.

Nerohna said troopers saw signs that 25-year-old Vincent was under the influence — he slurred his speech, had bloodshot eyes, and his breath smelled like alcohol.

Vincent refused to take field sobriety and chemical tests, said Neronha. Police obtained a search warrant for the 25-year-old’s blood to determine his blood alcohol content.

Police said his BAC was 0.158% — nearly double the legal limit. Drugs were also found in the car, including 55.68 grams of ephedrine and 2.93 grams of cocaine.

Vincent is schedule to face a Providence Superior Court judge in August.