Updated: August 28, 2015
By Tony Gugliotta, NBC 10 News
A single car accident in Bristol has claimed the life of 50-year-old Frank Sousa.
Witnesses said other motorists stopped to try to save Sousa trapped inside the truck.
The accident happened near Metacom Ave. about 6 p.m. Thursday.
BRISTOL, R.I. -
A single car accident in Bristol has claimed the life of the city's deputy fire chief.
Deputy Fire Chief Frank Sousa was killed in the accident that took place at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
A red Dodge pickup truck crossed Metacom Avenue and ended up down the hill against a nearby building.
What remains of the truck was hauled away. It was partially covered with a tarp.
The driver was extricated from the wreckage and transported to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“I just came down and the car was already down there and there (were) like 30 cars over here trying to help and they were all like, ‘Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!’ You know, ‘Get him out!’” said Samantha Damasio, a witness.
Police told NBC 10 News the vehicle was traveling west bound on Sowams Drive. It went across the street and down the embankment before hitting the building. That’s when it came to rest.
“You see things like this on the highway, but you don’t think on a main road like this,” said another witness, Luis Damasio.
Residents said they are shaken up by what they saw. Yet, they are thankful at least that the careening truck didn’t hit any other vehicles as it crossed Metacom.
“I’ve never seen anything that horrible since I’ve been here,” Samantha said.
Investigators continue to look into the exact cause of the crash.