Attorney General Peter F. Neronha has announced the conviction of a Providence woman in a deadly DUI case. The verdict was delivered by a jury at the Providence Superior Court, finding Yiranis Liz guilty of driving under the influence and causing a crash that resulted in the death of 38-year-old Andrea Bosworth in 2017.
The trial, presided over by Superior Court Justice Maureen B. Keough, concluded on December 9, 2024, after five days of proceedings. Liz was found guilty on charges of driving while under the influence resulting in death and driving to endanger resulting in death.
Following the verdict, Liz was released on $10,000 personal recognizance and ordered to surrender her passport. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 20, 2025.
"This case is another tragic example of the deadly consequences of driving while under the influence," said Attorney General Neronha. "Andrea Bosworth had her whole life ahead of her, but because of this defendant’s reckless actions, Andrea’s family is left with the indescribable pain of figuring out how to navigate life without her. These cases never get any easier, but with accountability comes justice and hopefully, deterrence. I want to thank the Rhode Island State Police for their hard work on this difficult case."
The prosecution demonstrated that on October 22, 2017, Liz drove under the influence and caused a fatal crash on Route 95 South. At around 2:20 a.m., Rhode Island State Police responded to reports of an accident where Liz lost control of her vehicle and struck Bosworth, who was standing outside her parked car in the breakdown lane.
Bosworth was found unresponsive by emergency responders and taken to Rhode Island Hospital in critical condition; she passed away nearly a month later on November 23, 2017.
At the scene, field sobriety tests indicated signs of impairment from Liz. After refusing a blood test at Rhode Island Hospital, authorities obtained a warrant for her blood sample which revealed elevated alcohol levels and THC presence approximately seven hours post-crash.
"Driving while impaired poses a serious and unacceptable threat to the safety and well-being of our community," stated Rhode Island State Police Colonel Darnell S. Weaver. "This avoidable tragedy has caused immense pain for Andrea’s family, and I am grateful that justice was upheld, and the defendant was held accountable.”
The investigation and prosecution were led by Assistant Attorney General John Corrigan from the Office of the Attorney General along with Corporal James Gaffney from the Rhode Island State Police.