Rhode Island Man Sentenced for Drunk-Driving Crash That Killed Bridgewater Woman

MANSFIELD (WBSM) — A Rhode Island man has been sentenced to serve six to nine years in state prison after his drunk driving on the wrong side of the highway killed a Bridgewater woman in 2022.

Gonsahn Kamara, 37, of Pawtucket, pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to indictments charging him with manslaughter while operating under the influence, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, and operating under the influence (second offense.

In the early morning hours of May 7, 2022, a 911 call was placed by a woman who observed a silver SUV driving erratically, heading north on I-95. Moments later, Foxboro State Police received three 911 calls for a wrong-way driver traveling south in the northbound lane of I-495 near the Route 140 exit at a high rate of speed.

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A few minutes later, State Police were notified of a serious car crash on I-495 in Mansfield. After rescue arrived, they found Kerrie Dolbashian, 31, unresponsive in her white Toyota Camry. Police say her vehicle had sustained major damage to the front end. She was pronounced deceased.

According to reports, Dolbashian had been traveling to work as a nurse at Miriam Hospital in Providence, and was covering a co-worker's shift that morning.

State Police also located Kamara's gray SUV with front-end damage and deployed airbags. Kamara was trapped in his vehicle and was extracted by firefighters and EMS. While at the hospital, Kamara's blood alcohol content registered .18, more than double the legal limit.

Investigations revealed that the collision was caused by Kamara operating the wrong way on I-495. At the time of the collision, Kamara's vehicle headlights were turned off. Accident reconstruction analysis showed he was traveling at approximately 62 mph and did not try or attempt to avoid the collision.

The analysis also showed that Kamara would have seen the headlights of Dolbashian's vehicle from more than 1,000 feet away. Dolbashian attempted to avoid the collision at the last moment but was unsuccessful and was struck head-on.

During a sentencing hearing, Assistant District Attorney Catherine Sauter sought a seven to 10-and-a-half-year state prison sentence, while Kamara requested a five to seven-year prison term.

More than 20 family members and friends were present for the plea, six of whom gave victim impact statements to the judge prior to sentencing.

"This is yet another example of a drunken defendant driving on the wrong side of a major highway, killing an innocent woman who was on her way to work as a nurse to help people. The defendant's conduct is aggravated by the fact that he had previously been convicted for drunken driving," District Attorney Tom Quinn said in a statement.

"This senseless tragedy will impact the victim's family and friends for the rest of their lives. If someone is too drunk to drive, there are other options to get home other than driving drunk and endangering the lives of other people."