A chaotic crash on Union Avenue in Providence sent two passengers to the hospital late Friday night after a westbound vehicle swerved across oncoming traffic and slammed into four other vehicles, with the driver now facing a string of summonses including refusing both a breath test and a chemical test.
Providence police responded to 239 Union Avenue at approximately 10:30 p.m. Friday, according to WJAR. The report says the westbound vehicle struck a parked car with someone inside.
The vehicle then crossed into the eastbound lane and collided head-on with an oncoming car, before returning to the westbound lane and hitting two more parked vehicles, the report said.
Two Passengers Taken to Rhode Island Hospital
Two people riding in the original vehicle complained of pain at the scene and were transported to Rhode Island Hospital, according to NBC 10 News. No further details about their conditions were provided.
Occupants gave police conflicting accounts of who had been driving. Two witnesses confirmed the operator, according to the same report.
Driver Hit With Multiple Summonses
Police issued the operator summonses for several alleged violations, including operating without a license, lane usage, and failing to maintain a reasonable and prudent speed, as reported by NBC 10 News. The driver was also cited for refusing both a preliminary breath test and a chemical test.
For people under 18, Rhode Island General Laws § 31-27-2.5 describes penalties for refusing a chemical test but does not establish a chemical-testing requirement for drivers generally. Separately, under Rhode Island General Laws § 31-27-2.3, results from a preliminary breath test cannot themselves be used as evidence in a court or administrative proceeding involving impaired driving or breathalyzer refusal.
Five Vehicles Damaged in the Crash
In total, five vehicles were damaged in the pileup. Three required towing, while the remaining two sustained damage but were still able to be driven away from the scene, as noted by NBC 10 News.
Statewide DUI arrest figures
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation's Office of Highway Safety says law enforcement agencies made 3,227 DUI arrests in 2025, and 70% of those arrested refused a chemical test, according to RIDOT. These are statewide arrest and test-refusal figures, not a measure of crash trends over time, and they do not establish impairment or explain this crash.
Police say the incident remains under investigation, with no further updates on the case released as of Friday.
