CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) — Several hundred people gathered outside the Attorney General’s Office in Cranston on Saturday calling for tougher charges in a tragic New Year’s Day crash.
Olivia Passaretti, 17, was driving home when her car was hit from behind, pushing it off the road and down an embankment. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver, Aramis Segura, 30, is charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, driving to endanger resulting in death, obstruction of justice, and operating on a suspended license.
According to state police, Segura admitted to drinking three beers and smoking marijuana before getting behind the wheel.
“We will never stop until we get justice for Olivia. I love you,“ Victoria Passaretti said.
“Olivia did nothing wrong. She’s just a lighthearted girl that would always stand up for the underdog. All she was trying to do was come home that night,” Dennis Molloy said.
12 News learned Segura has been arrested more than a dozen times in the past, eight of which resulted in felony convictions. He’s also pleaded no contest to four misdemeanor crimes.
“This could have been anyone’s child that night, it could have been a family, sister, father, son, brother, but that night it was my daughter, my baby girl Olivia,” Janine Passaretti-Malloy said.
Passaretti’s family believes Segura showed intent to harm their daughter after a social media post from an alleged account of Segura’s.
Now, the family is pleading for the justice system to do more.
12 News reached out to the Attorney General’s Office issued the following statement:
We understand the family’s devastation at Olivia’s loss, particularly at such a young age, and we are committed to achieving justice on her behalf. The investigation by this Office and the Rhode Island State Police into the entirety of the circumstances involving the crash that caused Olivia’s death remains ongoing.”
Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office
Earlier this month, a judge granted a request from Rhode Island State Police to increase Segura’s bond from $10,000 to $250,000 with surety, but said he will be held on Superior Court violations.