East Providence driver raises havoc on streets near Riverside Square

EAST PROVIDENCE — A 49-year-old man has been charged by East Providence Police for causing a substantial car accident Thursday morning, Jan. 30, on Pawtucket and Bullocks Point Avenues in the Riverside section of the city.

The suspect is identified as Christopher Pari, of Worcester Avenue East Providence. He is being held at EPPD headquarters on the following charges:

1) Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Personal Injury  (3 counts)
2) Driving to Endanger Resulting in physical Injury(3 counts)
3) D.U.I.
4) Eluding
5) Leaving the Scene/Attended Vehicle

The investigation continues and more charges may be forthcoming, according to EPPD Lieutenant Raymond Blinn.

The incident occurred at roughly 10 a.m. Thursday. The East Providence dispatch center started to receive multiple 911 calls of an erratic driver driving on the wrong side of the road on Pawtucket Avenue. The callers also reported that the suspect had just hit a utility pole in the area of Bay View Academy and was attempting to leave the scene.

EPPD officers were immediately sent to the area and as the call was broadcast, one officer observed the suspect vehicle traveling southbound on Pawtucket Avenue in the northbound lanes. The suspect vehicle had heavy damage and was all over the road the officer reported.

An officer attempted to stop the suspect vehicle, but the suspect refused to stop and continued south on Bullocks Point Avenue on the wrong side of the road.  The officer continued with full lights and sirens on to stop the suspect as well as warn other motorist’s of the danger.  The suspect vehicle continued southbound as other motorist’s continue to swerve out of the way.

According to Lt. Blinn, the suspect vehicle continued south on Bullocks Point Avenue for about a half mile and struck the first occupied vehicle head on near the intersection of Bullocks Point Avenue and Maple Avenue.  The collision caused the first vehicle to hit with a second vehicle which was behind it.

The car having been stop initially, the suspect attempted to flee and stuck a second occupied vehicle which was stopped. He then pulled around the second occupied car and continued to drive off, but jumped the sidewalk and hit the corner of a fence as well as a another unattended parked vehicle in a driveway.

As officers surrounded the vehicle the suspect backed his vehicle up again in yet another attempt to flee, but then drove forward and struck a second utility pole.
Officers were forced to smash out the suspect’s passenger side window in order to gain entry and prevent the suspect from attempting to back his vehicle up and try to flee once more.