Democratic activist Weiner dies

Mark Weiner, a closed friend of Bill and Hillary Clinton and active player in Democratic politics, died Tuesday in Newport as he prepared to travel to the party’s convention in Philadelphia.

Weiner, 62, of East Greenwich, previously served as chairman of the state’s Democratic Party, and regularly hosted fundraisers for prominent candidates, including the Clintons. He was president of the Cranston-based Financial Innovations, which has provided a range of merchandise for Democratic conventions for many years.

“Mark was a dear friend. He always had a kind and generous heart and helped strengthen and enrich the community in so many ways,” U.S. Sen. Jack Reed told the Providence Journal. “He may have befriended presidents, but he really connected with people from all walks of life, and was dedicated to civic engagement and his fellow citizens.”

“Mark was active in Democratic politics for a generation, and he was a personal friend. It’s safe to say he was Rhode Island’s biggest Clinton fan, and I know how excited he was to see Hillary accept the Party’s nomination at this convention,” U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said through a statement. “Sandra and I extend our sincere condolences to Mark’s wife Susan and his entire family.”

Bill Clinton mentioned he and his wife’s sadness at the news of Weiner’s passing during his convention speech on Tuesday night.

3 teens injured in Route 10 rollover

Three teenagers were injured in a rollover accident on Route 10 in Cranston last week.

Rhode Island State Police responded to the highway’s southbound lanes just prior to the Pontiac Avenue overpass shortly before 2 a.m. on July 21. They found a 2002 Honda Civic driven by 19-year-old Meghan Kennedy of Warwick had veered across three lanes of travel, struck a curb and guard rail, and then collided with the overpass abutment, rolling several times and coming to a rest on its roof.

A backseat passenger, 19-year-old Destiny Cotto of North Providence, was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected and pinned under the vehicle. She was transported to Rhode Island Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Kennedy and the other passenger, 18-year-old Ian Willard of North Providence, were hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Kennedy was not wearing a seatbelt, while Willard was wearing one.

The cause of the crash remained under investigation.