Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The driver of a car that crashed off Route 295 on June 10, killing two of his companions, said he had been drinking beforehand at Mugshots bar in Providence, a state trooper told the city Board of Licenses Monday.

Trooper Nicholas P. Rivello Jr. testified at the outset of a hearing by the license board regarding whether Mugshots will be allowed to keep its liquor license.

Rivello said he interviewed the injured driver, Robert N. Baez, of Bellingham, Mass., at the scene of the accident, in Smithfield, at about 1 a.m., and then during Baez's trip to Rhode Island Hospital in a rescue truck. He said that he noticed a smell of alcohol on Baez's breath ,but did not note whether Baez's speech was slurred and his eyes bloodshot.

The city and state police have asked the license board to revoke the Mugshots license, held by a corporation owned by Joseph M. Aloisio. They allege that Aloisio's employees served alcohol to underage customers, including Baez and his companions; allowed underage customers to possess alcohol; operated his premises in violation of the public interest; and failed to maintain control of the premises to the extent necessary to keep order.

Baez, 19 years old at the time of the accident, is now 20. The minimum age to drink in Rhode Island is 21.

Baez was at the wheel of a car containing four 19-year-old male friends, all of whom had been drinking at Mugshots, the police allege. He has been charged criminally with two counts of driving while intoxicated, death resulting; two counts of driving so as to endanger, death resulting; and one count of driving so as to endanger, injury resulting.

Marcello G. Ventrella, of Bellingham, and Aram J. Pothier, of Blackstone, Mass., died in the accident.

 Tags  Providence RI Smithfield RI underage drinking

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