DUI Charge for Coventry Driver who Rolled Car in NK

A 28-year-old Coventry man is lucky to have walked away unharmed from a crash at the intersection of Route 4 and Tower Hill Road in North Kingstown June 2 after witnesses told police he was driving erratically at speeds upwards of 85 mph.

Police subsequently charged Joshua Tyler White, of 143 Bowen Hill Road, Coventry, with driving under the influence after responding officers concluded he was drunk when the accident occurred.

Police were dispatched to the intersection at around 1:36 p.m. for a report of a possible rollover and found White sitting near his car, a 2009 Nissan Sentra that was resting on its driver's side against the tree line on the northbound side of Tower Hill Road.

White reportedly told police he had three beers at Charlie O's in Narragansett and was driving to his friend's house in North Kingstown when the accident happened, telling officers he was driving about 60 to 65 mph when he lost control of his car and struck the guard rail.

But witnesses at the scene told police White, along with another driver in a red sedan, were both driving fast and erratically on Tower Hill Road. 

One witness said that it looked like White was driving upwards of 85 mph when the crash happened.

The witness stopped and went to check on the wreck when White reportedly got out.

White reportedly registered a .145 and .149 in two preliminary breath tests at police headquarters.

Along with the DUI charge, police cited White for speeding, failing to maintain proper control of a vehicle and a laned roadway violation.

The car was towed from the scene by BelleVille Towing.

White is due to appear in Third Division District Court on June 17.

While police were still at the scene, they saw a red Nissan Sentra approach and Conor Wilson, 25, of 119 Cattail Lane, North Kingstown got out, telling officers he was driving behind White when the crash happened.

Wilson said White was his friend and also said he was drinking at Charlie O's before the crash but denied speeding.

Police said Wilson smelled like alcohol and he too was charged with driving under the influence after failing a field sobriety test.

Wilson was also charged with refusing a chemical test.