18-Year-Old Charged With Portsmouth Crash That Injured 4: Police

PORTSMOUTH, RI — An 18-year-old from Massachusetts was charged with causing a crash that injured him and his three juvenile passengers, police said.

Michael Montanez Verdejo of Fall River was arrested and charged with driving to endanger resulting in serious bodily injury and driving to endanger resulting in physical injury following the Saturday night wreck on Route 24 North near Cedar Island, according to a media release from the Portsmouth Police Department.

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Officers responded to the single-vehicle crash about 9:45 p.m. and found "multiple occupants trapped inside" an overturned Toyota Camry in a wooded area next to the road, according to the release.

"A large construction traffic message board had been struck and was resting against the vehicle as a result of the crash," the release said. "The vehicle sustained extensive damage, and all airbags had deployed."

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Two juvenile passengers escaped the upside-down Camry before officers arrived but Montanez Verdejo and an unresponsive juvenile were trapped inside, according to the release.

"Officers detected a strong odor of freshly burnt marijuana emanating from inside the vehicle and during the investigation multiple alcoholic beverage containers were located," the release said. "Portsmouth Fire Department personnel arrived on scene and extricated both trapped occupants."

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The unresponsive juvenile passenger suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, where he remains hospitalized, according to the release, and Montanez Verdejo was taken to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence and also remains hospitalized.

The two other juveniles were taken to Newport Hospital where they were treated and released from care, according to the release.

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In addition to the driving to endanger charges, Montanez Verdejo was cited for driving with a suspended license, presence of an alcoholic beverage while operating a motor vehicle, possession of marijuana by a 17 to 20-year-old, laned roadway violations and reasonable and prudent speed violations, according to the release.

"Montanez Verdejo was arraigned by a justice of the peace and released after posting bail that had been set at $5,000 with surety," the release said.

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