"3 teens killed in crash built close bonds at work; Tragedy in Orange under investigation" by David Abel and Maddie Hanna, Globe Correspondent | August 16, 2008
ORANGE - Three teenagers who worked at a
Friends said the victims had just made brownies and were running out to get milk.
Joseph Songer of Athol, and Angelica Cheverez and Brittany Bailey, both of Orange, died in a crash that police and prosecutors could not explain yesterday. The victims were 18 years old.
(Blog author just shaking his head at the tragedy and such young life lost)
The driver, Frederic Adams, 17, of Athol, was seriously injured and was flown to the UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. Hospital officials did not return calls about his condition.
"This is a tragedy that's going to devastate both the Orange and Athol communities," Orange Police Chief Brian Spear said in a phone interview. "I can't remember an incident like this with a multiple fatality. It's just a real tragedy."
Let us hope the Boston Globe doesn't forget (like they have before).
Spear said the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier that Adams was driving struck the tree at about 11:06 p.m. at the intersection of Athol Road and Sentinel Elm Road in Orange.
Neither Spear nor prosecutors would comment on the cause of the crash, whether speed or alcohol were factors, or whether the teens were wearing seatbelts. "All I can say is it was not raining, and it was almost a full moon," Spear said. "The roadway was dry."
Elizabeth Dunphy Farris, a spokeswoman for the
McDonald's officials said the four had worked together at their location in Athol, but they did not say for how long. The officials said they did not work the day of the crash.
"This is a terrible tragedy and on behalf of the management and employees at McDonald's and the Napoli Group, we extend our deepest sympathies to the families," Peter and Sal Napoli, who own the Athol McDonald's, wrote in a statement.
Jennie Blanchette, 17, a friend from North Orange who was on staff with the four at McDonald's, said they had bonded while working together.
She described Bailey and Cheverez as best friends and Adams and Songer as "inseparable." One night, when they weren't working, she said, Adams and Songer went to the McDonald's parking lot and played baseball with Munchkins from Dunkin' Donuts.
When they were together, they "put you in a good mood," Blanchette said.
Relatives declined to comment yesterday. Adams and Songer attended schools in the Athol-Royalston Regional School District. It was not clear whether they had graduated or were still in school.
Athol school officials did not return calls seeking comment. Bailey and Cheverez graduated from Ralph C. Mahar Regional School in June in a class of about 100 students.
Reza Namin, the district's superintendent, described the two as "extremely loyal friends, quiet but very strong in their presence. They were great kids, very focused, and very prepared."
They are all great kids (as blog authors eyes start to water)!!!
He said that their loss has had a huge impact on the town and that the district was bringing crisis counselors to the high school today and on Monday. "This is devastating when it hits a small town like ours," he said. "I knew both of them well."
Namin said Cheverez, who helped with the school's cheerleading squad, was attending Greenfield Community College. Bailey, who was on the volleyball team, was going to Mount Wachusett Community College.
Oh, no!!! No, no, no, no, no, no!!!!!!!!
He said Cheverez, known as "Gel," short for Angelica, was born in New Jersey, had a twin brother and hoped to become a nurse. In a short biography she wrote for one of her classes, Cheverez said she was the proud owner of a scooter named "Hot Dog" as well as several fish. She described herself as "picky," which she thought would help her in the future, and she hoped to avoid working by winning the lottery.
Hard to feel a chuckle right now on that one, readers.
If she won $1 million, she said she would buy "a dream house in a warm climate," and if she had some money left over, she would buy two "flashy and fast cars" and "clothes from every store at the mall."
I don't know what I would do; how much could I afford to doante to our war victims?
At the crash scene yesterday, friends and family left purple daisies, lilies, and sunflowers. Michelle Maillet brought her 17-year-old daughter, Tiffany L'Ecuyer, who went to school with Bailey and Cheverez. They stood together staring at the splintered tree.
"It brings it too close to home," Maillet said. Then she embraced her daughter, saying, "I don't tell you I love you enough."
Now I'm bawling!
The facts is, NONE of US do that enough, and in this god-damned culture of death over here, if you do show the feelings there is SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU!!
It is "Hey, buddy, take it easy."
The fact is, THERE ISN'T ENOUGH LOVE in this world right now!!!!!!
In honor of Songer, one bouquet still wrapped in plastic bore a message written on its side:
"Joey, You are the light of my life. . . keep on rockin'. . . Love, Mom."Oh, yeah, that is breaking me down big-time!!!
I have to stop for a while now!!!!!!
And when it rains it pours, because that wasn't the only fatal car wreck in my part of the woods.
"Three killed in Western Mass. crash
State Police said three men were dead following a traffic accident yesterday in this Western Massachusetts town. The accident involving four vehicles occurred about 1:10 p.m. near the entrance to Colebrook Reservoir. State Police said a Chevrolet Blazer traveling south crossed the center line, sideswiped a Jaguar, then crashed head-on into a Chevrolet pickup. Police said Derek Martinez, 33, of Waterbury, Conn., the driver of the Blazer, was killed. Also killed were the pickup driver - Robert Bailey, 64, and his passenger, Gerald Williams, 67. Both men were from Thomaston, Conn. Police said the driver of the Jaguar, Michael Goldstein, 45, of Briarcliff Manor, N.Y., was uninjured (AP)."
Oh, God, how horrible!!!
Those "older" gentlemen were ALSO TAKEN OUT OF THIS WORLD MUCH TOO SOON!!!!!
