Cranston Driver who Struck College Student Was Drunk: Police

CRANSTON, RI—A 45-year-old Cranston man was charged with driving under the influence causing serious bodily injury after he allegedly struck a college student who was crossing Narragansett Boulevard early Saturday morning.

Eric Churchill, of 102 Columbia Ave., was drunk when he struck the pedestrian near Johnston and Wales University, police said.

The pedestrian, a 25-year-old student at Johnson and Wales, has been upgraded to fair condition from critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital, said Cranston Police Chief Col. Michael J. Winquist Jr.

Police said officers were dispatched to the area of 1025 Narragansett Boulevard at around 1:57 a.m. and came upon the victim "lying in the roadway, unconscious and bleeding." Churchill "had pulled over and remained at the scene."

Responding officers smelled alcohol on Churchill's breath and he failed a field sobriety test at the scene, police said.

Churchill was also charged with refusing a chemical test while at police headquarters and was held overnight for arraignment.

Police obtained a warrant to draw a sample of Churchill's blood and it "will be transported to the Rhode Island Department of Health for testing," Winquist said in a news release.

The victim is an international student at the school, Winquist said, and Cranston police have been in contact with staff from Johnson and Wales.

Churchill will be arraigned this morning.

Officers from the department's Traffic Unit are still investigating.

Photo by Chris Palmer.