Westport weekend marred by three bad crashes on Rt. 177

Posted 8/19/19

Three accidents on American Legion Highway (Route 177) damaged vehicles and sent several people to the hospital over the weekend, Westport Police report.

Detective Sergeant Christopher Dunn said …

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Westport weekend marred by three bad crashes on Rt. 177

Posted

Three accidents on American Legion Highway (Route 177) damaged vehicles and sent several people to the hospital over the weekend, Westport Police report.

Detective Sergeant Christopher Dunn said that the first occurred at approximately 5:15 p.m. Saturday in the area of Fieldstone Drive. A vehicle had stopped for a dog in the roadway and was struck from behind by a vehicle whose driver reportedly did not see the stopped vehicle. The elderly passenger of the stopped vehicle was evaluated at the scene after concerns for a head injury but ultimately did not want to be transported to a medical facility.

The second crash happened at the intersection of American Legion Highway and Route 88 at 5:43 p.m. while Westport Police and Westport Fire units were still attending to the previous crash.

A Ford F250 stopped in the eastbound lane to enter the on-ramp to Route 88 northbound and was struck in the rear by a flatbed truck. The Ford F250 was propelled forward into the westbound lane where it struck the driver’s side of a Toyota Sienna occupied by a husband and wife.

The flatbed also crossed over into oncoming traffic and struck a Buick Lacrosse at the driver’s door. Witnesses reported that the Buick was pushed off the roadway and onto the Route 88 northbound ramp from American Legion Highway westbound by the flatbed. The operator of the Buick had become entrapped and had to be removed by fire department personnel with the jaws of life. Due to what investigators believe was excessive speed, the flatbed continued after it had struck both vehicles and came to rest in the center median at that location.

From the point of initial impact to the final resting place it was estimated that the flatbed traveled just under 250 feet before stopping. The single occupant of the Buick and the passenger of theToyota Sienna were transported to Charlton Memorial Hospital with minor injuries. Both the operator and juvenile passenger of the Ford F250 were transported to Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital respectively with severe injuries. Although the flatbed suffered extensive damage to the front of the vehicle, the operator was unharmed in the crash.

Due to the extent of the crash with multiple individuals needing medical attention, mutual aid was provided by both the Fall River Fire Department and the Tiverton Fire Department.

The third accident occurred on Sunday, August 18, at 4:20 p.m. Friends traveling in separate cars to their destinatio were following one another onto American Legion Highway from the Route 88 southbound off-ramp. The lead vehicle stopped to check for traffic when the second vehicle struck it from behind. No injuries were reported.

“To that end, the Westport Police Department would like to remind everyone of the dangers of

distracted driving,” Sgt. Dunn said.. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association “driver distraction, including handheld device use such as texting and driving, is a contributing factor in many crashes. In 2017,

distracted driving was reported in crashes that killed 3,166 people (8.5% of all fatalities).

“There are many things you can do to prevent yourself from being distracted while driving.

The easiest would be to put your phone away and let family and friends know you will contact them once

you have reached your destination. A few seemingly quick seconds on the phone could cost someone

their life. It’s not worth the risk!”

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Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.