Car Drives Into Providence Pedestrian Bridge, Causes "Heavy Damage" According to Police

Car Drives Into Providence Pedestrian Bridge, Causes "Heavy Damage" According to Police

A driver reportedly crashed into a guard rail on the Providence Pedestrian Bridge -- and caused "heavy damage."

Providence police responded around 3:30 AM Thursday morning to a report of a vehicle "driving on the bridge that had crashed into the guard rail" on the east side of the bridge on South Water Street. 

Upon arrival, police spoke to the operator of the vehicle bearing Massachusetts plates, who admitted to police he was "operating the vehicle on the bridge."

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About Incident

Police observed heavy damage to the vehicle and then observed heavy damage to a section of the guard rail on the bridge consistent with the driver's story.  Police also observed large pieces of the vehicle floating in the river as well as pieces of the guard rail laying on the decking.  

The driver was apprehended without incident and transported to central station.

While in the cell block, the driver began to smash his head unprovoked into the cell block door causing injury to his head. 

Rescue arrived and transported the driver to Rhode Island Hospital for medical treatment.

Charges 

According to police, the driver was charged with reckless driving -- and arraigned by video from his hospital bed.

In June, "Black Lives Matter" was spray-painted on the bridge -- prompting clean up from late Providence civil rights leader Michael Van Leesten's family, for whom the bridge is now named. 

This story was first published 9/17/20 9:14 PM