Jury hears audio recording of woman charged in crash that killed teenager
WARWICK, R.I. (WJAR) — The state has rested its case in the trial of a woman accused of helping her boyfriend flee a crash that killed 17-year-old Olivia Passaretti of East Greenwich.
Alicia Peckham is facing felony charges in connection to the 2022 incident including harboring a criminal.
The jury heard a state police interview where Peckham admits to lying and changing her story.
In the audio recording, she also asked them what charges she could be facing for helping her boyfriend.
“That he wanted to be picked up,” Peckham said in a 2022 state police interview.
She said in the recording that she got a phone call from her boyfriend Aramis Segura early on New Year’s Day from an unknown number.
Segura is the driver accused of hitting 17-year-old Passaretti’s car on I-95 South, forcing her off the road and resulting in her death.
Police crash expert, Cpt. Jeffrey L’heureux, said Segura was going more than 90 miles per hour.
Passaretti’s car spun off the highway before traveling down an embankment and uprooting a tree.
Data showed a quick change in her car’s speed from the impact.
“From 65 to 83,” L’heureux said.
Investigators said Peckham later stopped at the scene, but told police that it wasn’t her boyfriend’s car.
In a later recorded interview, Peckham told police she went to pick up Segura in West Warwick, but then admits it was East Greenwich.
“I’ve been very corporative. I’ve I feel and yes, there are very little things that I did fabricate. Yes, I did but I am being honest with you guys,” Peckham said.
Investigators said she also told them Segura wasn’t home the next day they came looking for him.
Peckham’s attorneys argue she didn’t know anyone was hurt in the crash and was worried because Segura had a suspended license and was on probation.
“How is the person?” Peckham asked in the recording.
“The person was critically injured,” the Rhode Island State Police replied.
“Like how bad?” Peckham asked.
“The person has died,” Palumbo responded.
“You’re lying, you’re lying, oh my gosh,” Peckham said.
The judge will have to look over a defense motion for acquittal. It’s standard filing in a trial.
The defense is expected to start their case on Thursday.
Peckham’s lawyers said they have not yet decided if Peckham will testify.