Police ID woman killed after Volvo plows through Smithfield Subway
SMITHFIELD – One person was killed and five others were injured when a car plowed through a Subway restaurant on Wednesday afternoon, according to Smithfield police.
The Smithfield police identified the victim Thursday as Charlotte Vacca, 47, of Woonsocket.
Smithfield police Lt. Gregg Catlow confirmed that no children were involved. None of the injured, including the driver, were in critical condition Wednesday night, Catlow said.
What happened when a car drove through the Smithfield Subway?
Some firefighters were on the scene in the Apple Valley Mall in less than 60 seconds, finding a Volvo had plowed through the eatery, smashing its way into the far wall.
One person was pinned between the wall and the car, said Smithfield fire Deputy Chief Steven Quattrini, adding that it took about 30 minutes to remove the woman.
The driver was injured, but his injuries did not appear life-threatening, and firefighters extricated him in about 10 minutes, said Quattrini, who said that at the scene, it appeared that two women had life-threatening injuries.
The injured, he said, included an employee who was at work inside a neighboring business, Planet Fitness, and was in proximity to where the vehicle crashed into the wall.
Before crashing into the sandwich shop, the Volvo hit another vehicle in the parking lot, injuring another person, Quattrini said.
The person who was killed was pronounced dead at the scene, Catlow said.
Witnesses recall hearing a loud boom
Jeremy Fietz, 18, of Burrillville, said he was doing a squat exercise in the adjacent gym when he heard a "boom."
The crash sounded like a bomb and brought a cloudy haze to the interior of the gym. Fietz said he left the gym, moved into the doorway of Subway and saw a woman just inside. She was bleeding heavily, he said.
A fire dispatcher sent firefighters, including some who were nearby, to the scene at 2:53 p.m., Quattrini said.
The first alarm brought two engines, a ladder truck and three rescues to the shopping plaza on Putnam Pike, said Quattrini. The second alarm brought in three more engines, another ladder and a special hazards team.
Soon after, Quattrini called for even more resources, bringing 10 rescue units to the scene.
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During the emergency response, firefighters also had to attend to a reported fire elsewhere in town.
Five of the injured were taken to Rhode Island Hospital, while the driver was taken to Miriam Hospital.
No arrests were made Wednesday, Catlow said. An investigation continues.
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Victim in Smithfield Subway crash was Woonsocket woman
