« Today's front page | Today | Groups to press for special legislative session »

September 24, 2007

Suspected drunken driver drives into cove

EAST PROVIDENCE -- An East Providence man was charged with drunken driving and trying to
elude police after he crashed his car into Watchemoket Cove, the
authorities said last night.

Thomas Correia, 34, of 28 Apollo Rd., was seen on top of his partially
submerged Mitsubishi, and he tried to swim away when a fire department
rescue boat pulled up, according to Lt. Armen Garo.

Correia was brought to shore by rescuers. He faces charges of drunken
driving, reckless driving and eluding, disorderly conduct and refusing
to submit to a chemical test, Garo said.

The arrest followed a brief pursuit that began on First Street near
Mauran Avenue around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, he said.

Two police officers, Patrolman Andrew Dubois and Patrolman Kyle
Shibley, had pulled the driver over after seeing him
driving at a high rate of speed, Garo said.

Both officers were working together in a federally funded initiative to
combat drunken driving, he said.

As the officers approached the car, they could see Thomas's physical
condition and they suspected alcohol consumption, Garo said. Correia
drove away and headed south on Veterans Memorial Parkway, he said.

It was 30 to 40 seconds before the car veered off the parkway to the
right and plunged into the cove, Garo said.

The crash, he said, happened in an area near the junction between the
parkway and South Broadway, where people often feed the geese.

Correia was taken to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment.

He was released on personal recognizance, Garo said. He is scheduled
to appear Sept. 27 in District Court, Providence.

-- Journal staff writer Mark Reynolds

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 7:02 AM | Permalink

Comments

Post a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)