PORTSMOUTH, RI — A Fall River, Massachusetts, teen faces multiple charges after a single-vehicle rollover crash that left a juvenile passenger with life-threatening injuries.
Michael A. Montanez Verdejo, 18, of Fall River, was arrested for driving to endanger resulting in serious bodily injury and two counts of driving to endanger resulting in physical injury.
The Portsmouth Police Department responded to the crash on Route 24 North near Cedar Island at approximately 9:44 p.m. on Dec. 13.
Officers found a gray Massachusetts-registered Toyota Camry overturned on its roof in a wooded area adjacent to the roadway.
A large construction traffic message board had been struck and was resting against the vehicle.
The vehicle sustained extensive damage, and all airbags had deployed.
Four occupants were involved, including Montanez Verdejo and three juvenile passengers.
Officers made contact with two juvenile occupants who had exited the vehicle prior to police arrival.
Montanez Verdejo was found conscious but trapped inside the overturned vehicle, along with an unresponsive juvenile passenger who was also trapped.
Officers detected a strong odor of freshly burnt marijuana emanating from inside the vehicle, and multiple alcoholic beverage containers were located during the investigation.
Portsmouth Fire Department personnel extricated both trapped occupants.
The unresponsive juvenile passenger sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported by rescue to Hasbro Children’s Hospital, where the juvenile remains hospitalized.
Montanez Verdejo was transported by rescue to Rhode Island Hospital for his injuries and remains hospitalized.
The two other juvenile occupants were transported by rescue to Newport Hospital for treatment and have since been released.
In addition to the criminal charges, Montanez Verdejo was issued Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal citations for driving with a suspended license, presence of alcoholic beverage while operating a motor vehicle, possession of marijuana, laned roadway violations and reasonable and prudent speed violations.
Montanez Verdejo was arraigned by a justice of the peace and released after posting $5,000 bail with surety.
He will be formally arraigned at 2nd Division District Court on Dec. 18.
