Indictment handed down in deadly East Providence crash

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A Pawtucket man was indicted Friday on charges related to a crash that killed a passenger in East Providence.

Attorney General Peter Neronha announced Tuesday that 20-year-old Chaz Gagnon was indicted after crashing while allegedly fleeing police, resulting in the death of 20-year-old Ariana Roody of Woonsocket.

Officials said the crash occurred at 1 a.m. on Dec. 10, 2023, after Gagnon allegedly gave police a fake name and fled in his car when they questioned him in the parking lot of the Bullocks Point Village apartment complex.

Officers did not pursue Gagnon because of heavy fog but found the severely damaged car in the area of Veterans Memorial Parkway and Crowne Avenue shortly after, police said.

Both Gagnon and Roody were seriously injured in the crash and taken to Rhode Island Hospital.

Roody later died at the hospital from her injuries, and Gagnon was held without bail at Rhode Island Hospital while he recovered from his injuries, according to authorities.

Gagnon was charged with of driving to endanger death resulting and obstructing a police officer.