Victim ID’d, driver charged in fatal pedestrian accident

March 17, 2016 3:34 pm

By News Staff & Kirsten Glavin

kglavin@abc6.com

@kirstenglavin

PROVIDENCE, RI – A woman killed after she was struck by a car in Providence Thursday afternoon has been identified.

Police say 77-year-old Miguelina Perez, of Providence, was walking eastbound on Huntington Avenue around 2 p.m. when a vehicle crashed into her on the sidewalk.

"This has been very painful, she was a really good person… Always a good person," said one man visiting a makeshift memorial that rested at the crash site, Friday afternoon.

"When they confirmed that it was Miguelina, I was in complete shock. I couldn’t believe that she had to die because of an irresponsible driver. I just feel like we should all be more cautious and a lot more responsible as drivers," added one of Miguelina’s former coworkers.

The vehicle was also traveling eastbound on Huntington when the female driver struck the median, landing on the opposite side of the street and into the victim.

ABC6 spoke with a witness on scene. "A few feet over she would have hit me," said Daniel Warren of Providence. "All I saw was a car in mid-air!"

Police have identified the driver as 39-year-old Charlene Morales, of Providence. She has been charged with driving under the influence with death resulting and driving to endanger with death resulting.

Morales was arraigned on those charges Friday morning.

ABC6 did a background check, and Morales has previously been cited for driving with a suspended license and reckless driving.