A series of chain-reaction crashes on Interstate 95 South in Pawtucket early Sunday morning left multiple people injured and prompted reports of fights breaking out on the highway.
Just before 5:30 a.m., Rhode Island State Police responded to a multi-vehicle crash on I-95 South near the Broadway overpass. Investigators said the initial collision triggered two additional crashes within minutes.
The crashes resulted in more than a half-dozen injuries. One passenger was taken to Rhode Island Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, while two others were transported with minor injuries or complaints of pain. Six additional people were later taken to area hospitals following the subsequent crashes with minor injuries or complaints of pain. Troopers are also investigating whether others sought medical treatment on their own.
Before state police arrived, witnesses reported chaotic scenes along the highway, with numerous people getting out of their vehicles, walking in the travel lanes, and fighting on both sides of I-95.
Witness John Gomes said he was surprised by the number of people who exited their vehicles as traffic backed up, describing groups of people walking around and even appearing to party while emergency crews responded.
The cause of the crashes remains under investigation.
