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Warwick Police Charge Driver in Pedestrian Strike Sunday

[CREDIT: WPD] Warwick Police have charged Jacek Ploch, 38, of 445 Washington St., Coventry, RI, with DUI after he struck a pedestrian on Airport Road Sunday, July 14, 2019.

[CREDIT: WPD] Warwick Police have charged Jacek Ploch, 38, of 445 Washington St., Coventry, RI, with DUI after he struck a pedestrian on Airport Road Sunday, July 14, 2019.
[CREDIT: WPD] Warwick Police have charged Jacek Ploch, 38, of 445 Washington St., Coventry, RI, with DUI after he struck a pedestrian with his Jeep on Airport Road Sunday, July 14, 2019.
UPDATE 3:36 p.m.: Warwick Police have identified the pedestrian struck Sunday night as Jonathan Freeman, 38, of Warwick RI.

At last check, Freeman is still at Rhode Island Hospital listed in stable condition, police reported.

This article has also been updated to reflect the identity of Ploch as a pastor at Saint Vincent de Paul Parish and Our Lady of Czenstochowa Church in Coventry.

Original story 10:10 a.m.: WARWICK, RI — Warwick Police have charged a Coventry driver of a 2018 Jeep Wrangler  and Coventry priest who struck and injured a pedestrian near 767 Airport Road Sunday, July 14 at 9:27 p.m. with driving under the influence of alcohol.

Warwick Police have charged Fr. Jacek Ploch, 38, of 445 Washington St. Coventry, RI, a priest at Saint Vincent de Paul Parish and Our Lady of Czenstochowa Church in Coventry, with DUI, first offense, blood alcohol greater than .15, Warwick Police reported this morning.

Initial reports indicated the male pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and was reported to be face down in the roadway, according to Warwick Police. The pedestrian was not in a cross-walk at the time and was reported to be crossing from the south side of Airport Road to the north side in the area of the Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant.

A Rescue crew arrived on scene and found the pedstrian conscious and suffering from an apparent extremity injury. The man was transported to RI Hospital, where he is in stable condition.

Ploch, who was driving west on Airport Road, was arrested and later charged.

Ploch became a priest at Saint Vincent de Paul  in 2013, according to TheRICatholic.com. Ploch also served as assistant past at St. Kevin in Warwick following his ordination in 2008, according to the publication.

The Warwick Police Traffic Unit reconstruction team is investigating this incident.

Rob Borkowski
Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.

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