Father testifies at Serra trial about seeing wrecked car with teens inside

By Mike McKinney

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. -- Four witnesses testified Friday at the trial of former Chariho School Committee member Terri Serra, who is accused of violating Rhode Island's social host law and of failing to render help at a crash involving four teenagers who had been on her property.

Joshua Baton Sr. testified about arriving at the crash on Route 112, Charlestown, early on Oct. 23, after his son, also named Joshua, called him saying his friends had been in a wreck and he thought they were dead. He had been at the same gathering.

The older Baton said he confirmed that another adult had called 911, then saw John Lamotte, a rear seat passenger, who "was hanging out, his hands almost touching the ground, bleeding from his face."