Norfolk County man who died from injuries sustained in pedestrian crash remembered for decades of hard work

A Norfolk County man killed in a pedestrian collision is being remembered.

According to a statement from police, on Monday, at approximately 8:00 a.m., the Metacoment Emergency Communications Center received 911 calls reporting a serious motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian in the area of 354 Pleasant Street in Franklin.

Franklin Police and Franklin Fire Department were dispatched and upon arrival found a pedestrian with serious injuries who was struck by a single motor vehicle.

Life saving measures were performed by first responders. A Life Flight Medical Helicopter was requested and landed at Longley Field for transport to the hospital. The pedestrian was ultimately transported to an area hospital by the Franklin Fire Department where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.

According to the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office, the pedestrian was identified as 89-year-old Ugo Ciannavei of Franklin.

Fall River Reporter contacted Ugo’s daughter, acclaimed writer, actor, teacher, producer, and political activist, Andrea Ciannavei, to tell us about her dad.

“My dad was born in 1936 in Mussolini’s Italy and was a farmer.  He came to Walpole from Ascoli Piceno Italy in 1973. He worked hard every day of his life since he was 9 years old. He was famous for his gardening, and an obsession with collecting cans after he retired twenty-five years ago. He leaves behind two sisters and a brother in Italy, his wife Phyllis, my brother Steven and me. He was the reluctant grandfather to 5 dogs. He claimed not to love them, but I always caught him sneaking the dogs table scraps when he thought no one was looking. He died the way he wanted to. On his feet. He never took a break in his life. Maybe now he can finally rest.”

The crash remains under investigation by Franklin Police, MSP Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office.