Flags half staff for detective killed

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri has ordered all state flags to be lowered to half staff, to honor the passing of RI State Police Detective Sergeant James Dougherty, Jr.

Forty-one-year-old Detective Sgt. Dougherty was killed in a single car accident in West Greenwich early Sunday morning.

Investigators said he was off duty at the time and driving his own car on Route 3 just before 2 a.m., when he came across a large body of standing water near Wills Swamp Road.

Police said he lost control of the vehicle as it hydroplaned off onto the shoulder of the road and struck a utility pole.

“On behalf of All Rhode Islanders, I extend thoughts and prayers to the family of Detective Sergeant Dougherty, especially his wife Diane and his father retired State Police Lieutenant James D. Dougherty, Sr. Sergeant Dougherty dedicated his life to serving and protecting the public."

"His tragic and untimely death is a great loss to the men and women of the State Police and to the people of Rhode Island,” said Governor Carcieri.

The cause of death, according to The Rhode Island Department of Health and the Office of State Medical Examiners, is a fracture at the base of his skull and multiple blunt force traumatic injuries.

Flags will remain at half staff until Sergeant Dougherty is laid to rest.