Franklin Man Held In Connection with Fatal Crash in RI

(Image courtesy of Franklin Police Department)

Reed Barbour, 22, of Franklin, accused by Woonsocket, RI police of leaving the scene of an accident that involved a fatality, was arrested at their request Tuesday by the Franklin police.

At about 11:20 on Friday night, according to published reports and a Woonsocket Police press release, there was a crash involving two vehicles at South Main Street and Providence Street.

Police found a vehicle operated by Thomas Seuss, 55, of Woonsocket. He was suffering from head injuries. His passenger, who had been thrown from the vehicle, Brian Blanchette, 39, of Bellingham, has multiple injuries and was pronounced dead when he was taken to the hospital.

What police didn’t find was the operator and passenger of the other vehicle, who reportedly fled the scene by foot. The operator was eventually identified as Reed Barbour, 22, of Franklin and Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas Oates III requested help from Franklin police in locating and apprehending him.

Franklin police confirmed that they made the arrest on Tuesday and, according to published reports, held Barbour overnight until he could have an extradition hearing. This was done on Wednesday at Wrentham District Court. According to Oates, Barbour did not contest his extradition. He was then transported to the Norfolk County Jail in Dedham, confirmed by the Sheriff’s spokesman, Garrett Nichols, who declined to say more than to confirm his presence at the facility.

What happens next? Oakes said he did not know but believed the Rhode Island Sheriff’s Department might take Barbour into custody or could deliver him to the Woonsocket Police.

At some point, Barbour will be arraigned in a Rhode Island Court. He faces charges of duty to stop in accident resulting in death, duty to stop in accident resulting in serious injury, driving to endanger resulting in death, and driving to endanger resulting in personal injury.