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Ariana Roody

Age : 20

Gender : Female

Race : White

Date : 12/10/2023

Location : Veterans Memorial Parkway and Crowne Avenue

City : East Providence

County : Providence

State : Rhode Island

Agency : East Providence Police Department

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Bystander killed in crash after driver drove away from police

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

REASON FOR CHASE: Driver fled traffic stop and crashed into third party bystander.
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NARRATIVE:
On 12/10/2023, 20-year-old Ariana Roody of Woonsocket was killed while riding as a passenger in a Kia driven by Chaz Gagnon, 20, who crashed minutes after driving away from East Providence police.
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Shortly before the crash, East Providence police encountered the Kia while investigating what they described as a suspicious vehicle at the Bullocks Point Village apartment complex. Police said Gagnon gave officers a false name during the encounter. While officers were investigating his identity, Gagnon drove away from them, crossing an island divider and curbing as he left the complex.
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Officers broadcast a description of the Kia but did not chase it. Police said the decision not to pursue was based on heavy fog and uncertainty about what offenses, if any, had occurred beyond Gagnon providing a false identity.
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Minutes later, police received a report of a serious crash on Veterans Memorial Parkway near Crowne Avenue. Officers arrived and found the heavily damaged Kia. Roody was unconscious and critically injured. She was transported to Rhode Island Hospital, where she died. Gagnon suffered serious injuries and was also hospitalized.
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Police initially charged Gagnon with driving to endanger resulting in death, reckless driving/eluding police, obstructing an officer and three counts of fugitive from justice. Investigators said he had outstanding warrants from other jurisdictions.
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A Providence County grand jury subsequently indicted Gagnon in connection with Roody's death. The Rhode Island Attorney General's Office announced in May 2024 that he had been indicted on charges including second-degree murder, driving to endanger resulting in death, reckless driving, obstructing an officer, and driving with a suspended license. The indictment alleged that Gagnon caused Roody's death while driving recklessly after leaving the police encounter.
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SOURCE LINKS :

https://eastprovidenceri.gov/node/5697
https://fallriverreporter.com/authorities-release-name-of-20-year-old-woman-killed-in-east-providence-crash/
https://patch.com/rhode-island/eastprovidence/woonsocket-woman-dies-east-providence-crash-pawtucket-man-arrested
https://epsilon.creativecirclecdn.com/eastbayri/files/20231214-090033-The%20Post%20-%20Thursday%2C%20December%2014%2C%202023.pdf