A New York man was arrested after a fiery crash in Middletown, Rhode Island, that killed a child younger than 3 in the car he was driving early Thursday morning, according to police.
Jerry Bonilla, a 32-year-old man from the Bronx, is facing multiple charges, including driving under the influence resulting in death. He was allegedly fleeing from police at the time of the crash.
The incident began in Portsmouth, where police said they tried to stop a speeding driver around 1:20 a.m.
“The vehicle slowed and moved to the right side of the roadway, then rapidly accelerated from the officer,” Portsmouth police wrote in a Facebook post.
The car reached estimated speeds of 80-90 mph, police said. The officer stopped chasing the driver, and police in Middletown were notified that the car was entering their jurisdiction.
Police in Middletown responded to West Main Road in front of Linden Park, where the car left the road, hitting a stone wall and a utility pole. It was fully engulfed in flames when officers arrived.
First responders removed the driver and a front-seat passenger, Middletown police said, but a passenger in the back seat could not be freed and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Middletown police later said that victim was younger than 3 years old.
The driver, later identified as Bonilla, and the other passenger were taken to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment.
Police did not say whether Bonilla and the child were related.
Authorities in Middletown said Bonilla had been charged with DUI resulting in death, DUI resulting in serious bodily injury, driving to endanger resulting in death and driving to endanger resulting in personal injury.
He was arraigned Thursday, police said. It was not clear if he had an attorney.
Police said that bail was set at $500,000 with surety, and that Bonilla had been remanded to the Rhode Island Adult Correctional Institution.