Pedestrian on I-195 in Swansea Killed by Passing Vehicle

A 47-year-old Rhode Island man died after being hit by a vehicle on Interstate 195 Saturday evening.

Just before 5:30 p.m., Massachusetts State Police responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle on 195 eastbound at Exit 8 in Swansea. Police found a man on the roadway and performed CPR and other first aid, but the man, identified as Ulise M. Pena of Pawtucket, was declared dead at the scene.

A preliminary investigation indicated that Pena, who was a passenger in a westbound 2003 Dodge Ram, became involved in an altercation with the driver, a 51-year-old Providence man, police said in a media release. The driver pulled into the breakdown lane and Pena exited the pickup, ran across three westbound lanes and onto the eastbound side of the highway where he was struck by a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck operated by a 21-year-old Lincoln, R.I., man.

Both drivers remained at the scene. The Dodge pickup had an additional passenger, a 33-year-old Providence man. There were no other injuries.

The crash remains under investigation by Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police with assistance from the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and the State Police Detective Unit for Bristol County. Swansea Police, Fire and EMS also assisted at the scene.

The rescue response and investigation required the closure of the left lane for approximately three hours. State police said no further information would be released at this time.