Pawtucket, RI (September 1, 2026) – One driver was hospitalized with minor injuries after a rear-end wreck at Newport Avenue and Evergreen Street on Sunday afternoon, August 30, according to the Pawtucket Police Department. The crash was reported around 2:45 p.m.
The hospitalized driver’s airbag deployed during the crash. The other driver was treated for minor injuries at the scene.
We hope both drivers have a full recovery.
Why May Airbag Deployments Cause Injuries on Their Own?
Airbags are designed to inflate within a fraction of a second to cushion an occupant during a sudden stop, but that rapid deployment can itself cause minor injuries like bruising, abrasions, or soreness. This is a normal part of how the system functions, since the alternative, striking the steering wheel or dashboard directly, typically carries far greater risk.
The force needed to inflate an airbag quickly enough to be effective means it can make contact with an occupant’s face or chest with noticeable impact, even in a relatively low-speed rear-end crash like this one. This is part of why someone can walk away from a crash with only minor injuries that stem specifically from the airbag itself.
Medical evaluation after any airbag deployment is generally recommended, since the same rapid force that prevents more serious harm can still cause injuries that benefit from a closer look, even when they aren’t immediately severe.
