Driver To Face Charges In Death Of Erica Knowles

The South Kingstown Police Department has issued a warrant for the arrest of Dean C. Philbrick, of Wakefield, on drunken-driving charges after his car collided with a telephone pole last Wednesday, killing a 23-year-old South Kingstown woman.

Philbrick, 46, of 50 Harcourt Ave., will face a felony charge of driving under the influence, death resulting, and a second felony charge of driving to endanger, death resulting.

According to Sgt. Mark Healey, the South Kingstown police prosecuter, officers noted an odor of alcohol when speaking with Philbrick after the crash that occurred just after midnight on Feb. 15. Philbrick's car collided with a telephone pole and several trees on Torrey Road, killing Erica L. Knowles, 23, formerly of 95 Wood Lane.

Knowles was a journalism and women's studies major at the University of Rhode Island.

“We don't have the blood alcohol content from the hospital at this time,” Healey said. “That is something that would be an objective of our investigation.”

Healey said Philbrick's lawyer was informed of the warrant and said Philbrick would cooperate with a police investigation.

"We understand he will be represented by an attorney and we will continue to work with his attorney until he is arraigned in court," Healey said. "That will certainly be determined by his medical condition."

A third victim of the accident, Rebecca Scott, 29, of 12 Lily Lane, Narragansett, was treated and released at South County Hospital after the crash.

The three reportedly worked together at Turtle Soup in Narragansett.