Driver in Fatal Route 2 Rollover Charged with DUI

EXETER, RI—An Exeter teen is charged with fatal DUI, a 17-year-old Coventry girl is dead and two young South County men were seriously injured after a single-car crash Thursday night.

The Rhode Island State Police charged Scott Gavitt, 18, of 99 School Land Wood Road at Rhode Island Hospital where he is being treated for serious non life-threatening injuries and is held on $100,000 surety bail.

Police said Gavitt is suspected of being drunk when he lost control of his 2005 Nissan Altima while speeding on South County trail near Yawgoo Valley Road at around 10:05 p.m.

Heidi Malstrom, 17, of Coventry, suffered fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced dead at Rhode Island Hospital. She was a student at Chariho High School.

Police said Malstrom was riding in the front seat of the car without a seatbelt when Gavitt veered right and struck a mailbox before veering in the opposite direction, crossed both lanes of Route 2, and struck a utility pole before coming to a rest in front of the house at 642 South County Trail.

Police identified two rear seat passengers as Daniel Duffy, 22, of North Kingstown, and Cameraon Miillar, 20, of West Kingstown. They also were not wearing seatbelts, police said.

Duffy was ejected from the car and is in critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital.

Millar suffered serious but non life-threatening injuries, polic esaid.

Gavitt has been charged with numerous counts of driving under the influence and driving to endanger and detectives are waiting for the results of blood tests to confirm he was intoxicated.

Police said in a news release that Gavitt “ displayed signs of impairment on scene and upon arrival at Rhode Island Hospital.

The charges are:

• Driving under the Influence of Liquor or Drugs, resulting in Death
• Driving Under the Influence of Liquor or Drugs, resulting in serious bodily injury (2 counts)
• Driving so as to endanger, resulting in Death
• Driving so as to endanger, resulting in serious bodily injury (2 counts)

Members of the State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit, Wickford Barracks, Forensic Science Unit, Major Crimes Unit and the Attorney General’s office concluded after an investigation that speed and alcohol may have been factors leading up to the crash.

Gavitt is due to appear in Washington Coutny District Court on April 24 for a prearraignment conference.

Photo courtesy: ABC6