Police issue official accident report on Deputy Chief Frank Sousa's fatal crash

Posted 10/8/15

Police have released the official crash report on the accident that killed former Bristol Fire Department Deputy Chief Frank Sousa. The State of Rhode Island Uniform Crash Report, issued yesterday, does not include an official cause of death. When …

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Police issue official accident report on Deputy Chief Frank Sousa's fatal crash

Posted

Police have released the official crash report on the accident that killed former Bristol Fire Department Deputy Chief Frank Sousa. The State of Rhode Island Uniform Crash Report, issued yesterday, does not include an official cause of death. When asked, the Bristol Police Department said "Mr. Sousa died from injuries directly related to the motor vehicle crash."

Mr. Sousa had just left the fire department headquarters on Annawamscutt Drive in his 2012, red Chevy pickup truck on August 27 when it crashed into a fence at 535 Metacom Avenue around 5:56 p.m. Patrol Officer Angelo Greco, who wrote the report, arrived at the scene and saw Sgt Steven St. Pierre running towards Mr. Sousa's truck on north side of 535 Metacom Ave. Sgt St. Pierre and an unnamed witness gave medical assistance to Mr. Sousa.

The truck sat between 535 Metacom Ave. and a metal chain link fence that separates 535 Metacom Ave. and 545 Metacom Ave. It sustained heavy damage to its front, passenger side and underside after striking the fence. Officer Greco said the truck appeared to have struck nine metal fence posts before coming to a stop. Mr. Sousa was in the driver's seat, still secured by his seatbelt, and was "in and out of consciousness" at the time.

When Bristol Fire and Rescue personnel arrived medics tended to Mr. Sousa's wounds and stabilized him while fire personnel removed him from the truck. A witness on the scene told police Mr. Sousa's truck sped through the intersection and onto the property at 535 Metacom Ave., hitting the fence and continuing west until coming to a stop just north of the building.

The witness, who tried to aid Mr. Sousa after the crash, said the truck crashed into the Nunes property without attempting to slow or stop at any point.

A second witness who observed the accident from Sowams Drive estimated Mr. Sousa's vehicle was doing 75 mph at the time of the collision.

Police did not release the names of the witnesses.

Mr. Sousa became a member of the Defiance Hose Company No. 1 in November of 1992, and eventually became its captain in 2002. He served two stints as captain of the volunteer company, most recently from 2011 to 2013.

Bristol Fire Department, Bristol police, Defiance Hose Company 1, fatal accident, Frank Sousa, Victor Paul Alvarez

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