East Providence, RI (March 4, 2025) – A tractor-trailer driver has been charged following a massive 12-vehicle crash on Interstate 195 that left 13 people injured near the Rhode Island/Massachusetts border in East Providence.
Accident Details: The crash occurred at 8:53 a.m. Tuesday on I-195 westbound. Authorities say Jon P. Main, 64, of Cranston, Rhode Island, was driving a tractor-trailer when he failed to stop for traffic, causing a chain-reaction crash involving 12 vehicles. Thirteen people—including Main—were transported to area hospitals with injuries. While most were minor injuries, one woman suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Main has been charged with driving to endanger resulting in physical injury. According to the Rhode Island State Police, he will be arraigned after his release from the hospital.
Investigation and Legal Considerations: Commercial truck drivers must maintain a safe following distance to allow adequate stopping time, particularly on busy highways. Failing to maintain sufficient distance to slow down for traffic ahead is a serious breach of the duty to drive safely, especially because fully loaded tractor-trailers require significantly more stopping distance than passenger vehicles.
Investigators will assess whether Main was distracted or fatigued. They will review:
- Speed and braking data from the truck’s black box to determine whether Main was traveling too fast for the conditions;
- Driver logs to check for violations of federal hours-of-service (HOS) regulations, which limit how long truckers can drive before mandatory rest breaks;
- Surveillance footage and witness accounts to reconstruct the sequence of events; and
- Truck maintenance records to ensure there were no mechanical failures affecting braking or steering.
If negligence is confirmed, the crash victims may have grounds to pursue personal injury claims. I extend my wishes for a full and speedy recovery to all individuals injured.
Source: WCVB