Mayor in two-car crash; wife, other driver injured

April 20--PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- A two-car crash involving Mayor Donald Grebien injured his wife and another motorist Saturday night.

Grebien said Wednesday that he and his wife had left a birthday party at a local brewery. The mayor, who was driving, said he was trying to turn left onto Broad Street from Goff Avenue when their Honda Accord collided with an oncoming car in the intersection.

Officer Matthew Mello came upon the crash at Exchange and Broad streets around 9:45 p.m., moments after it happened, according to a police report.

Grebien said he was uninjured, but his wife, Lauren, who was in the passenger seat, suffered a concussion. The other driver, Milca Osorio Cruz, told the police she had pain in her chest and left shoulder.

Both Mrs. Grebien and Osorio Cruz were taken to Rhode Island Hospital for evaluation and treatment.

The Grebiens' Honda and Osorio Cruz's Saturn ION had substantial front-end damage and were towed from the scene.

The crash is not under investigation and no summonses were issued, Sgt. Timothy Graham said in an email Thursday. He said no one was determined to be at fault because there were no independent witnesses. Without serious injury or death and with no independent witnesses, the police will take both operators' statements and leave it to the insurance companies to determine fault, he said.

Grebien said Wednesday that he thanked the police and firefighters for their response and professionalism. He said his wife is recovering.

In the aftermath of the crash, Grebien said, he canceled his trip with other political leaders Sunday morning to Arjona, Colombia, which is Pawtucket's "sister city."

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