Warwick man pleads not guilty to DUI, 7 year old recovering from injuries

By: Chloe Leshner

cleshner@abc6.com

@ChloeLeshner

WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) — A 7 year old Warwick girl is on the road to recovery after she was hit by a car while heading to the park with her family back in May. The man behind the wheel faced  a judge again today. This time to add a drunk driving charge.

Anthony Sudduth plead not guilty to a DUI but a police report ABC 6 News obtained today says his blood alcohol content was nearly 5 times the legal limit.

Family members of the 7-year-old girl hurt in the accident say the not guilty plea is unbelievable.

"It’s hard seeing your granddaughter in a wheelchair all because some idiot had to drive drunk," says Karen D’Amario, Haylee’s grandmother.

Anthony Sudduth held without bail after being charged with a DUI. He plead not guilty to that and a driving to endanger charge.

Emotions running high, Haylee’s great uncle, Providence City Councilman Nicholas Narducci, not holding back in court, shouting that Sudduth should never see the outside of a jail cell.

"I had a little outburst and I apologize for that. I just felt myself shaking, the baby’s life will never be the same," says Narducci.

Sudduth has 2 DUI convictions on his record and according to police, his BAC was so high, it was in the range of fatal alcohol poisoning.

"I feel he should never see the outside world because if he’s done it 3 times, he’ll do it again," says Narducci.

The entire family is still reeling from that day.

"My grandson Sean will say Grandma, we shouldn’t have asked mommy to go to the playground because this would’ve never happened if we didn’t ask to go. And I’m like it’s not your fault, it’s nobody’s fault except for the guy who shouldn’t have been driving," says D’Amario.

But they say they’re lucky, Haylee is recovering at home, working hard on regaining mobility in her left leg.

"She;s mostly always smiling," says D’Amario.

There have been several fundraisers for Haylee and family members say the outpouring of support from the community has helped them cope in the weeks since the accident.
(C) WLNE/ABC 6 2018