Driver faces charges in Attleboro jet fuel tanker crash

November 12, 2008 01:54 PM Email| Comments (4)| Text size – +

(George Rizer/Globe Staff)

Emergency crews at the scene after the crash last week.

By Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

A Rhode Island man will face charges after his negligent driving allegedly caused a tractor-trailer carrying aviation fuel to overturn on Interstate 95 in Attleboro last week, an accident that forced the closure of the southbound side of the highway for nearly 11 hours.

Andrew Tavares, 21, of East Providence was allegedly driving too fast and lost control of his car, which then rammed into the truck, sending it careening out of control, State Police said in a statement.

An investigation found that Tavares "was driving at a speed greater than reasonable for the highway conditions at that time, and that his excessive speed combined with his attempt to swerve around the vehicle in front of him caused him to lose control of his car," State Police said.

Tavares has been summonsed to court to faces charges of negligent operation, failing to stay within marked lanes, speeding, driving an unregistered motor vehicle, failing to notify the registry of an address change, and possession of drug paraphernalia, State Police said. He is to be arraigned at a future date in Attleboro District Court.

Tavares was driving a 1997 Volvo in the middle lane of the highway between Exits 2 and 3 at about 4:47 a.m. on Nov. 6 when he lost control and struck a Jersey barrier on the left side of the highway. His car hurtled across the road, hitting a 2004 Freightliner tractor-trailer in the right lane. The truck rolled over, blocking all four lanes and leaking fuel, State Police said.

Tavarez, a passenger in his car, and the driver of the truck were all treated for minor injuries at Rhode Island Hospital.

State Police said they found a glass pipe consistent with those used to smoke marijuana in Tavares's car. They said they also discovered that the car's registration was suspended in Rhode Island because of failure to have it inspected and that Tavares hadn't notified the motor vehicle registry in his state of his current address.

Tavares couldn't be reached for comment.