Four-Car Pileup in Portsmouth Caused by Juveniles Playing Pokémon Go, Police Say

PORTSMOUTH, RI — Juveniles transfixed while playing Pokémon Go are believed to be responsible for causing a four-car pileup on East Main Road last week.

Nobody was hurt after the crashes, but at least one vehicle suffered disabling damage, according to an accident report.

Police said the crash happened at around 4:31 p.m. on Thursday when two juveniles "ran into the roadway" at the crosswalk on East Main Road near Freeborn Street.

Police said a bystander, who wanted to remain anonymous, told police that the two pedestrians were juveniles who were playing Pokémon Go.

The juveniles entering the crosswalk caused the first driver, identified by police as a Portsmouth woman in her 70s, to stop abruptly to avoid hitting them.

That caused a second car, driven by a 36-year-old Fall River, Massachusetts, man, to crash into the first car. A 47-year-old Rehoboth, Massachusetts, man then crashed into the second car, and a fourth car, driven by a 37-year-old Tiverton man crashed into the third.

The first car in the chain suffered minor damage. The fourth car had disabling damage to the front fender. The middle two cars suffered minor damage. Nobody was injured.