WOONSOCKET – A man who allegedly committed an assault in North Smithfield later drove at speeds close to 100 mph through Providence Street, where he collided with at least three other vehicles, a utility pole, a sidewalk newspaper dispenser and a building.
Police finally caught up with Stephen Scott, 25, of 209 Eddie Dowling Highway, in last month’s real-vehicle, bumper-car fiasco on Providence Street, several days ago.
Police reports say North Smithfield picked up Scott for the assault on Feb. 24 and turned him over to the Woonsocket Police Department to be processed on the city charges. In addition to the NSPD’s charges of assault and disorderly conduct, the WPD booked Scott on seven moving violations – three of them criminal – including two counts of leaving the scene of an accident involving an attended vehicle and reckless driving against public safety. He was also issued citations for four Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal offenses, including leaving the scene of an accident involving an unattended vehicle; two counts of leaving the scene of an accident involving a highway fixture; and driving without evidence of insurance.
On Friday, Feb. 7, according to police reports, Scott – with an unidentified male passenger – was traveling toward the downtown area on Providence Street at speeds estimated to be in the range of 80-100 mph in the 25 mph zone when the trip went very sideways. He sideswiped a Hyundai and rear-ended a Ford Explorer – both occupied – before he climbed a sidewalk and struck a utility pole, hitting an unoccupied, parked Ram pickup in the process.
Driving a blue BMW sedan, Scott also collided with a newspaper box and the building for Al’s Place at 134 Providence St., damaging siding and an electrical box.
After Scott struck the first of the vehicles – the Hyundai – as he attempted to pass it en route to South Main Street, the occupants video-recorded all the subsequent calamities involving Scott’s BMW and followed the vehicle, which was later found abandoned behind 282 South Main St.
The vehicle had sustained so much damage during its ruinous trek that it was undriveable, according to police.
During the investigation, police interviewed Scott’s passenger. It was from him that police obtained the estimate for Scott’s speed as he bolted through the heavily congested Providence Street neighborhood.
The rider told Det. Sgt. Scott Gormley that as Scott approached Providence Street “he raised his speed to approximately 80-100 mph, placing him in fear.”
After an appearance in Sixth District Court, Scott is free on $3,000 personal recognizance pending another hearing on Monday, March 17. He’s due in Third District Court to answer the NSPD’s assault charges on Tuesday, March 25.
What a piece of Mr Hanky!