Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Providence police say that a South Providence man wanted for leaving the scene of a hit-and-run crash that led to an explosion on Saturday is on the run from an arrest warrant.

Steve A. Checo, 29, whose last known address was in South Providence, was identified by police Tuesday morning as the driver of a speeding rental SUV that crashed and triggered the explosion.

The blast injured a police officer and five firefighters, some of whom were sent flying into the air. All have since been discharged from Rhode Island Hospital.

A speeding SUV had rounded the corner of Rugby Street onto Pavilion Avenue, where it slammed into an occupied parked minivan, and then into a natural-gas meter on the corner of a utility shed attached to a townhouse at the Williams Woods housing complex. The impact caused a break in the natural-gas line, and the accumulated gas exploded -- blowing off the roof and sending debris and rescuers flying.

The driver ran away before the explosion, but an eyewitness's account and evidence left behind in the driver's rental Nissan Xterra led police to determine his identity, said Sgt. Paul Zienowicz.

Zienowicz said more charges may follow.

Meanwhile, Officer Riggins Jones and Firefighter Keith Gonsalves, who had been the closest to the explosion and the most seriously injured, have been released from Rhode Island Hospital. Jones still suffered from impaired hearing, and Gonsalves was recovering from a head injury and cuts and burns on his hand.

Firefighters Raymond Charron, Michael DeFazio, Steven Whalen, and Mark Cesana were also injured, but were released from the hospital soon after the crash, according to the police.

Projo.com has been tracking this story as it develops. Our initial report was published Monday at 5:37 p.m.

 Tags  Providence Fire Department Providence Police Providence RI

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