17-year-old dies after “avoidable” crash in Rhode Island, police say

A 17-year-old boy died Thursday after a car accident in Cumberland, R.I. that police called “heartbreaking, yet avoidable.”

The crash occurred at about 10:45 p.m. Thursday when the teen’s car was traveling on Mendon Road in Cumberland when his car struck another vehicle turning from Vivian Avenue onto Mendon Road, police said in a statement. 

The teen’s vehicle left the roadway after the collision, struck a telephone pole and fire hydrant, and returned back to the roadway “after tumbling a great distance,” police said. The teen was partially ejected from the car in the accident, the statement said.

The 17-year-old was transported to Rhode Island Hospital where he died of his injuries. The driver of the second vehicle refused medical assistance on scene, according to the statement.

Investigation showed the teen was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and that the driver’s side seatbelt receiver “had a device installed to prevent the buckle from being inserted.” Speed and driving behavior were likely contributing factors in the crash, police said. 

“On behalf of the Cumberland Police Department, I offer my condolences to the young man’s family, friends, and loved ones,” Cumberland Police Chief Matthew J. Benson said in a statement. “This tragic loss of a young life is heartbreaking, yet avoidable. I would like to remind all motorists to always wear their seatbelt and drive within a safe, and appropriate, speed and manner.”