3-Year-Old Killed When Vehicle Slammed Into Stone Wall And Pole: Cops

MIDDLETOWN, RI — A 3-year-old was killed when a vehicle slammed into a stone wall and pole and burst into flame early Wednesday morning, police said.

The vehicle was heading south near West Main Road south of Evergreen Avenue when it ran off the road shortly before 1:30 a.m., the Middletown Police Department said in a media release.

"Middletown Police Officers responded and found the vehicle fully engulfed in flames," the release said.

"Officers removed the driver and front-seat passenger from the vehicle," according to the release. "Tragically, a rear-seat passenger could not be extricated and was pronounced deceased at the scene."

The driver and front-seat passenger were taken to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence with serious injuries, the release said.

The driver, 32-year-old Jerry Bonilla of the Bronx, New York, was charged with driving under the influence of liquor or drugs resulting in death and driving under the influence of liquor or drugs resulting in injury.

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