Member of Rhode Island National Guard dies in Exeter crash
EXETER, R.I. (WJAR) — A member of the Rhode Island National Guard was killed in a crash in Exeter on Wednesday morning.
State police were called to a single-vehicle crash at about 7 a.m. on Route 102 south.
Police said the driver, 56-year-old Richard Winkelman of Westerly, lost control while driving over ice and struck a rock and a tree.
Winkelman was rushed to Kent County Hospital where he died from his injuries.
“We are devastated by this news, any time a tragic accident happens its affects us all,” said Rhode Island National Guard Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Christopher Callahan. "Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, and we hold them in our thoughts."
David Frey of Coventry said he drives on that road almost daily heading to and from work.
"It was very slippery [Wednesday morning] and I saw a couple spin outs," Frey said. "I saw a bad accident. A car into a tree at one point so it was a pretty treacherous commute this morning."
Frey couldn't confirm whether the driver in that accident was Winkelman, but the details are very similar.
Other Route 102 frequents tell NBC 10 News roads were very dangerous Wednesday morning.
"I went around the corner and slipped kind of sideways, and I was going kind of slow at the time too," said Anita Whalen of South Kingstown. "You could lose and start fish tailing very easily."
NBC 10's Leanna Faulk contributed to this report.