Crime & Safety
Two Mass. Men Charged with Drag Racing on Pell Bridge
Both men held overnight and released on $2,000 bail Saturday morning.
Two Massachusetts men decided to drag race on the Claiborne Pell Bridge early Saturday morning but Rhode Island State Troopers had their radars and charged both with reckless driving and drag racing.
Police said Marco L. Basile, 21, of Longmeadow, Mass., and Curtis J. Lussier, 24, of 43 Breezy Knoll Road, also of Longmeadow, were stopped at around 1:45 a.m. after they were seen speeding on the bridge.
Troopers were able to clock them driving side by side at a speed of 91 mph on the bridge, which has a posted 40 mph speed limit.
"It was apparent to the Troopers that the two vehicles were operating recklessly and racing," a state police release stated.
The road surface was wet at the time, and the men were stopped at the exit ramp for downtown Newport.
Both men were held overnight at the Wickford Barracks and arraigned this morning.
They were released on $2,000 surety bail and will appear in Second Division District Court to answer to the charges.
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