Former RIPTA CEO, Scott Avedisian faces judge. Charge of leaving crash scene is filed.

WARWICK − The former chief of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority pleaded no contest Wednesday in District Court, Warwick, where he was accused of crashing an SUV into another car in a fast food drive-through lane and fleeing the scene.

District Court Judge J. Terence Houlihan Jr. accepted Scott Avedisian's plea and filed the charge for six months.

That basically means Avedisian can avoid further penalties if he stays out of trouble over the next six months. Houlihan also ordered Avedisian to pay court costs.

No injuries reported in crash

The ruling brought a degree of closure to the legal situation that saddled Avedisian following a three-car crash at a McDonald's on Post Road in Warwick on March 27.

Avedisian was driving a RIPTA-owned SUV when he rear-ended a Mercedes-Benz, pushing the luxury vehicle into a Toyota Camry, according to police.

One of the other drivers , Ariana Andrade, told police that the driver of the SUV, whose eyes were "blood shot red," told the two of them to pull aside. Then, he drove away.

Neither Andrade, nor the other driver, nor a child traveling with Andrade, were injured in the crash.

Avedisian resigns from RIPTA

Avedisian initially pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of failing to stop after a motor vehicle accident resulting in damage.

A short time later, he submitted a letter of resignation to Gov. Dan McKee , saying that "recent events" had cast a shadow on his accomplishments at the statewide bus agency.

"I regret that the good work of the employees is being detracted by my actions," Avedisian wrote. "Therefore, I respectfully submit my resignation and ask that the board of directors terminate my contract."

Avedisian, who made $181,796, was a former Warwick Mayor. In 2018, Gov. Gina Raimondo hired the Republican to run RIPTA.

What is a filing and how is it different than probation?

Defense lawyers say a filing is a more lenient form of punishment than probation or a suspended sentence.

If a defendant is not arrested and abides by the conditions of the filing, during the period of the filing, the case is dismissed. On the other hand, if the conditions are violated, prosecutors can seek to re-sentence the defendant.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Former RIPTA CEO, Scott Avedisian faces judge. Charge of leaving crash scene is filed.