06/23/09 - One man is dead after a speeding pickup truck collided with a utility poll on Corn Neck Road at 1:10 Tuesday morning.

Passenger Mitchell Paskins, a 28-year-old native of Australia, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police Chief Vin Carlone said the 56-year-old driver, Craig C. Huntley, of Narragansett, has been charged with driving under the influence, death resulting and driving as to endanger, death resulting. Both are felonies. Police held Huntley overnight and arraigned him Tuesday morning in Fourth Division District Court in Wakefield.

Carlone said the pickup truck, traveling south at high speed, carried Huntley and three passengers. Paskins was riding in the backseat and ejected through the window after the collision. Dr. Paul Mann from the island Medical Center pronounced him dead on the scene. The two other passengers and Huntley were treated and released.

Pick up Friday’s print edition of the Block Island Times for complete coverage.