Court documents reveal timeline of fatal I-295 crash that killed daughter of state trooper

Newly released court documents are providing a detailed look into the moments leading up to a brutal highway crash that killed the daughter of a Rhode Island State Police captain six months ago, including transcripts where another driver admits he may have caused the deadly wreck. Juan Carlos Archila, 44, faces charges for allegedly running 23-year-old Casey Bassignani off the road on Interstate 295 in Cranston and speeding away from the scene. As the case moves to Superior Court, hundreds of pages of newly obtained investigative documents and eyewitness accounts are piecing together a timeline of what authorities describe as a deadly "brake-checking" incident. The crash occurred on the afternoon of Nov. 26, 2025. According to police, video captured Archila weaving in and out of traffic on Route 6 and tailgating a box truck minutes before pulling onto I-295. Speed calculated from Flock safety cameras recorded him at approximately 88 mph just after 3:30 p.m., shortly before he reached Bassignani’s vehicle. Two landscapers traveling in a truck in the same direction told investigators they witnessed Archila pull directly onto Bassignani’s bumper. The witnesses stated that Archila then accelerated around her, pulled into her lane, and slammed on his brakes. To avoid a rear-end collision, Bassignani swerved to the right, lost control of her sedan, and spun into a tree in the highway median. She suffered catastrophic injuries in the collision and later died at an area hospital. Authorities said Archila fled the scene immediately after the crash. When detectives tracked him down the following day, Archila initially claimed he had no idea a collision had occurred. However, the investigation revealed that Archila deleted a phone call made to a business associate just minutes after Bassignani went off the road. MORE NEWS: Collapsed section of Newport Cliff Walk to remain closed for 2026 summer season Court documents also state that Archila's internet search history showed he checked local news outlets that evening to see if the crash was making headlines. When pressed by investigators about why the encounter began, Archila reportedly told police Bassignani honked at him. The landscapers told police it was Archila that honked at Bassignani. The state's evidence includes a direct admission from Archila during a police interrogation. When a detective asked, "Do you feel that your actions contributed to that death?" Archila responded, "From what it sounds like, yeah, it does." While investigating the fatal crash, police uncovered further alleged criminal activity. Authorities stated that while searching Archila’s phone for evidence related to the wreck, they discovered multiple files of child pornography. Officials said those findings will be prosecuted as an entirely separate case. Legal counsel from both sides are scheduled to meet on Sept. 1 for a pre-trial conference to determine the next steps in the crash case. Meanwhile, the community continues to honor Bassignani's legacy, including a recent 5K run organized by state troopers in April.