Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Toddler killed, 3 others injured in fiery crash on Route 95, Warwick, R.I.




May 12, 2015
WARWICK, R.I.

A fiery rollover in the median of Route 95 near the Route 4 split Monday night claimed the life of a 3-year-old child despite the efforts of Good Samaritans who saved two adults and a 5-year-old from the vehicle before rescuers arrived.

State Police Lt. Mark Farnum said early Tuesday that the crash occurred around 9 p.m. Monday in the wooded median about a mile north of the Route 4 split.

A news release from the Rhode Island State Police on Tuesday afternoon said the southbound vehicle had veered left across all lanes of travel and into the median, where it struck a tree. It flipped and burst into flames, and the Wickford Barracks received multiple 911 calls, the news release said.

Before troopers and the Warwick Fire Department arrived, Good Samaritans were able to pull out the driver, Robert Souza, 34, Lindsey Clark, 25, and Savannah Clark, 5, all of the same North Kingstown address.

A trooper and a Good Samaritan entered the burning vehicle several times to reach Adonis Clark, 3, who was secured in a child restraint in the back seat. Intense heat, smoke and flames thwarted them.

The 3-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, the news release said.

Both adults were taken to Rhode Island Hospital with serious injuries and are in critical condition, police said. Savannah Clark was taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The trooper was treated at Kent Hospital for cuts on his face and arm and minor burns on his arm.

The state police are asking anyone who witnessed the accident to call the Wickford Barracks at (401) 444-1064.