Crime & Safety
Low Blood Sugar Apparent Cause Of 9/10 Crash
Johnston Police reported the details of a single-car crash at the intersection of Atwood and Greenville Avenues that shut down the traffic lights there.
A low blood sugar level was the apparent cause of a single-car accident at Atwood and Greenville Avenues that injured the driver and , reported.
On Sept. 10 at 6:51 p.m., the Toyota Tacoma driven by Louis O’Donnell, of Cranston, struck the support pole for the traffic signals.
Sgt. David Alverson, Sgt. Michael Babbitt, and Patrolmen Joseph McGinn and Michael Edwards responded to the scene. Edwards stated in his report that O’Donnell was conscious but appeared to be “highly lethargic.”
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O’Donnell reportedly told Edwards he did not remember what happened, and that he is diabetic.
Johnston Fire and Rescue personnel treated O’Donnell for a broken left leg and minor lacerations, and measured O’Donnell’s blood sugar level at 26 mg/dL after learning of his condition.
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Such a low blood sugar level could have caused O'Donnell to lose consciousness, according to Edwards’ report. Normal blood sugar levels are typically 80 to 100 mg/dL and above.
Smithfield Police Lt. Dennis Paul reported that he saw O’Donnell driving north on Atwood Avenue as he approached the Greenville Avenue intersection.
Paul told Edwards that O’Donnell appeared to be driving at a high rate of speed, according to the police report. Edwards witnessed O’Donnell’s vehicle travel up onto the Atwood Avenue median and strike the “Right lane must turn right” sign. O’Donnell’s Toyota Tacoma continued through the intersection and struck the pole for the traffic lights.
Rhode Island Department of Transportation crews removed the broken pole, and are expected to finish replacement work by early next week, a spokesman said during an interview on Sept. 13.
