7 Arrested in Connection With Fatal Crash

Rhode Island State Police have arrested seven people in connection to a fatal motor vehicle crash in July.

Rhode Island State Police have arrested seven people in connection to a fatal motor vehicle crash in July.

Police allege that a group of vehicles left a car show in North Smithfield and traveled onto Route 99 south. They began racing each other at speeds exceeding 120 miles per hour. One of the vehicles, operated by Aarron Harmon, 22, of Bellingham, Massachusetts, lost control of his vehicle, killing 21-year-old passenger Simon Ratsamy of Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

As a result, the following individuals were arrested and charged.

  • Brian Simono, age 19, of 153 River Street, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, charged with street racing
  • Joshua A. Bettencourt, age 25, of 21 Homeward Avenue, Uxbridge, Massachusetts, charged with street racing
  • Corey Smiley, age 21, of 64 Woonsocket Hill Road, North Smithfield, Rhode Island, charged with street racing
  • Austin Machado, age 19, of 38 Toni Circle, North Smithfield, Rhode Island, charged with street racing
  • Nicholas J. Budnick, age 27, of 152 Federal Street, Blackstone, Massachusetts, charged with reckless driving
  • Zachary J. Fortier, age 20, of 530 Cranston Street, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, charged with reckless driving
  • Ramiro Segura, age 20, of 290 Rathbun Street, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, charged with reckless driving

Charges are pending for Harmon. The investigation is on-going. 

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