Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

WARREN, R.I. -- Friends and family have set up the Joseph Hunt Memorial Scholarship Fund to honor the 20-year-old grill and saute cook at Jack's Family Restaurant whose life was taken by a hit-and-run driver early Sunday in Bristol.

Restaurant operator Maria Gomes-Vieira said donations can be made at Citizens Bank or by mailing a check to P.O. Box 276, Warren, R.I., 02885. Anyone with questions can call 245-4052, she said.

Hunt's family will receive visitors from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Smith Funeral & Memorial Services, 8 Schoolhouse Rd., Warren. The funeral will be from 7 to 8 p.m.

State Rep. Douglas W. Gablinske, D-Bristol and Warren, called on legislators to pass a bill that would help police keep drunk or drugged drivers off the road by allowing them to get a search warrant to take a blood sample from suspects who refuse to take a blood-alcohol test after an accident causing serious injury or death.

Gablinske, whose father was killed by a drug-impaired driver 38 years ago, said 44 other states have a law like the one he is seeking, which gives police "the strongest piece of evidence they can have."

His bill (2009 -- H5039A) was approved in the House on June 26 with an amendment requiring that police videotape the blood sample being taken. The Senate has passed the initial bill for the last eight years, he said. General Assembly leaders are negotiating compromise wording, he said.

Matthew J. Sullivan, 23, of 3 Grant St., Barrington, was released after posting $5,000 cash on $50,000 surety bail. He is charged with driving under the influence, death resulting, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, both felonies.

 Tags  Barrington RI Warren RI

Leave a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email:

URL:  

Remember personal info?

Captcha:

Type the characters you see in the picture above.