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Above, Reed Barbour, Franklin Police image from 2023.
Reed Barbour, of Franklin, accused by Woonsocket, RI police of leaving the scene of an accident that involved a fatality on April 21, 2023, was finally sentenced yesterday after a long session with Associate Justice Linda Rekas Sloan of the the Bristol-Providence Superior Court.
At about 11:20 on that April 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, had 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, then 22, of Franklin. 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 the Tuesday following the crash 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.
Barbour was eventually brought to Rhode Island to face four charges: 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.
Prior to yesterday Disposition, there were more than a dozen court appearances of one sort or another for the defendant, who was allowed out on bail. But yesterday, according to his defense attorney, S. Joshua Macktaz, Barbour “took responsibility” and was sentenced to six years in the Rhode Island Correctional Institution in Cranston.
According to Macktaz the final settlement was negotiated with Assistant AG Steve Regine and with involvement from the families of the victims. “They did not object to the sentence,” Macktaz said. He said Barbour came with about 15 family members and supporters. In the end, “he left the courtroom in handcuffs,” Macktaz said.
