Providence, RI : Pawtucket man held on $25,000 bail in crash that killed three on April, Thursday 6th 2017

People sobbed Monday as the man who the police say was behind the wheel of a car that crashed into a utility pole early Thursday, killing three of its passengers, stood in front of a judge in Providence District Court.

James Belanger, 21, of 214 Sweet Ave. in Pawtucket, was charged with three counts of duty to stop in an accident resulting in personal injury/death; three counts of driving to endanger, resulting in death; one count of possession of cocaine; and one count of driving while in a possession of a controlled substance.

He walked into the courtroom shackled and wearing prison garb. Judge Robert Pirraglia set bail at $25,000 with surety. Belanger also surrendered his license.

The three women who died in the crash were not wearing seat belts, and were ejected from the 2003 Nissan Altima. All three victims were from West Warwick: Fatima Rosa, 22, who died at Rhode Island Hospital; and Emily Howell, 20, and Theresa Leary, 24, both of whom died at the scene.

“Disgusting,” Elizabeth Bennett said about the bail. She was in court with Courtney Howell, the sister of Emily Howell. “He took three people’s lives.”

Bennett added, “Kids need to know they’re not invincible. It takes one time.”

“My heart just sank” at hearing the bail amount, Courtney Howell said, as she wiped away tears outside the courtroom. She said her sister was the mother of a 3-year-old boy.

The Pawtucket police have said that Belanger was driving the Nissan on Walcott Street at a high rate of speed, before losing control near Schofield Street.

Authorities described the wreck as “devastating.”


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Pawtucket man held on $25,000 bail in crash that killed three