Port Washington Student Sustains Major Injury in Rhode Island Car Accident

A college student from Port Washington was one of four people injured in a car accident in Newport, R.I., Thursday morning, authorities said.

Christopher Wands, a Port Washington resident attending Salve Regina University in Newport, and son of psychic medium Jeffrey Wands, broke both femurs. He was transported to the Rhode Island Hospital emergency room.

Wands was scheduled for surgery early Thursday afternoon, a spokeswoman for Jeffrey Wands' firm said.

"It's every parents worse nightmare," she said. "We are praying for all of them."

Wands was in a car that slammed into a wall in front of the Breakers Mansion on Ochre Point Avenue at around 1:30 a.m. Thursday. All the victims are 19-year-old students at Salve Regina University and from New York, and all sustained what were described as major injuries. 

The Newport Fire Department and Newport Police responded to a 911 call for a motor vehicle accident. Rescue personnel arriving on the scene found a small, red Hyundai SUV with New York license plates that had crashed into a wall near the front gate at the Breakers. It had heavy front-end damage.

Four male victims had sustained major trauma injuries and at least two appeared to be entangled in the wreckage. Ladder 2, Engine 5, and an additional rescue unit were requested to the scene immediately. The Jaws of Life were used to extricate one victim, and the crews stabilized and immobilized all victims. Additional rescues from Middletown Fire and Navy Fire were called to the scene.

Police believe the driver was Michael Canning of Massapequa. He was brought by rescue to Braga Park and was then taken by medivac helicopter to the Rhode Island Hospital surgical unit in Providence. He was reported to have rib fractures and internal injuries.

Passenger Christopher Connors of Garden City sustained a broken leg and pelvic bone. He was trapped in the vehicle and rescuers used the Jaws of Life to get him out.

Ian Cadzin of East Rockaway also suffered a broken femur. He was taken to the Newport Hospital emergency room for treatment.

A large group of Salve students had gathered at the scene when rescuers arrived, but apparently none witnessed the accident. Police were interviewing people who heard the crash and came outside to find the wreckage.

Two young women who live in one of the residence halls across from the Breakers said they heard a loud screech early Thursday and ran out to the scene to find the crowd of other students, some who were visibly upset because they knew the victims. The women, who declined to give their names, said they believe the men in the accident live in the residence halls near the mansion.

Police believe the vehicle was traveling east on Victoria Avenue and attempting to turn left on Ochre Point when it crashed. They are at the scene this morning attempting to recreate the accident. There were no skid marks at the scene, and police this morning said they do not yet know how fast the vehicle was traveling.

They will also be investigating where the group was coming from. They do not know if alcohol was a factor or if any of the 19-year-olds had been drinking.

A total of four rescue vehicles, two engine companies, one ladder company and a command vehicle were on the scene as well as Newport police officers.

The accident is currently under investigation by the Newport Police Department's Criminal Investigative Division.

Salve Regina administration sent an e-mail to students Thursday morning asking them to keep the four men and their families in their thoughts and prayers.