State Police Investigate Fatal Crash on Route 195 in Somerset

On Friday, October 17, 2008, at approximately 2:05 a.m., Troopers assigned to the State Police Barracks in Dartmouth responded to a single vehicle crash on Route 195 East in the vicinity of the Lees River Road overpass that resulted in one fatality and one minor injury.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Allyson Powell indicates that Twenty-one year old Rosin So from Providence was operating a 2001 Chevrolet Impala on Route 195 East when she lost control and struck the median guardrail. After striking the median guardrail, the Chevrolet crossed all lanes and struck the guardrail on the right side of the road. After striking the guardrail on the right side of the highway, the Chevrolet once again crossed over all lanes before coming to rest on top of the median guardrail facing West in the eastbound lanes. Eighteen year old Anita Ruom from Lowell, the passenger who was not wearing a safety belt, was ejected from the vehicle during the crash, and was declared deceased at the scene. The operator was wearing a safety belt and was trapped in the vehicle after the crash. She was extricated by emergency personnel and transported by ambulance to Charlton Hospital and later to Rhode Island Hospital with minor injuries.

This crash remains under investigation with the assistance of the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section. The Bristol County State Police Detective Unit, The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, The Somerset Fire Department, The Somerset Police Department, and MassHighway assisted troopers at the scene.

Due to the crash investigation and vehicle removal, the left and center travel lanes of Route 195 East were closed for approximately 4 hours.

No further information is available at this time. Please do not call the barracks directly.