Newport Police Department, Newport, RI

The Newport Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a motorcyclist involved in a hit-and-run incident that occurred on Independence Day.

According to a social media post from the Newport Police Department on Friday, July 11, the crash happened around 10 p.m. on Thames Street at the intersection of Thames and Wellington streets on July 4, 2025. The incident involved a motorcycle operator who struck a pedestrian and then fled the scene.

Police are seeking information from anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has knowledge of the motorcycle operator’s identity. The department has not released details about the pedestrian’s condition or the extent of injuries sustained.

Anyone with information about this hit-and-run incident is encouraged to contact Traffic Detective Michael Sherman at 401-845-5783. The Newport Police Department emphasized that even small details could prove valuable to their investigation.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...