Woonsocket 'Guy Holding The Little Girl' Caused Intoxicated Crashes: Cops

PROVIDENCE, RI — An intoxicated Woonsocket man rear-ended a vehicle, fled the crash and rear-ended another vehicle before the driver of that automobile blocked his escape path until the law arrived, police said.

"It’s the guy holding the little girl, he sounds intoxicated as well,” the second rear-ended driver exclaimed to troopers when they arrived at the scene of the crash, according to a Rhode Island State Police report.

The guy holding the little girl, 31-year-old Sergio Lopes, had rear-ended a vehicle on Interstate 195 West in the area of India Point Bridge about midnight Saturday, according to the report.

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The Pawtucket woman driving the rear-ended vehicle told troopers that "immediately after being struck, she began to pull over to the right shoulder, believing Lopes would do the same," the report said.

"She stated it was at this time Lopes began to flee the area, traveling at a high rate of speed in the second lane of travel onto Route 95 North. She stated Lopes continued onto Route 95 North, eventually merging onto Route 146 North," the report said. "She stated while following Lopes, she continuously attempted to flash her high beams at him to attempt to signal him to pull over, but he continued to flee."

Lopes then rear-ended a second vehicle, according to the report.

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The woman told troopers that "after pulling behind Lopes, he again attempted to flee, reversing and striking the front of (the second) vehicle," the report said.

The driver of that car then repositioned his vehicle directly in front of Lopes vehicle, blocking Lopes from fleeing the scene," according to the report.

Lopes told troopers he and his daughter, whose age was not disclosed but was younger than 13, according to the report, were not injured and that his car merely "'bumped' the vehicle in front of his," the report said.

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Providence Fire Department personnel arrived and attempted to conduct a medical evaluation of the daughter, which Lopes objected to, according to the report.

"Lopes became argumentative, stating his daughter would not be going anywhere without him and that he wished to be with his daughter while she was checked by Providence Fire Department, the report said. "It should be noted that during the entirety of the interaction with Lopes, he was holding his daughter against his left side, with his left arm wrapped around her torso."

A trooper told Lopez to let go of his daughter and "began to reach for Lopes’ left arm," according to the report.

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Lopes then "pushed (the trooper) with both hands away from him," the report said.

Troopers grabbed Lopes by both arms and "attempted to guide (him) to the jersey barrier located directly behind (them), but Lopes tripped forward, striking his forehead on the ground and laying face down on his chest," the report said.

Lopes was arrested on charges of child endangerment, driving under the influence of liquor, driving under the influence of liquor or drugs with a passenger younger than 13, simple assault and/or battery, disorderly conduct, obstructing an officer in execution of duty, failure to stop for an accident resulting in damage to a vehicle and reckless driving, according to the report.

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The report also said Lopes was charged with weapons other than firearms prohibited, despite also stating, "Lopes was searched incident to arrest, yielding negative results for weapons or contraband.

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