A local man killed in a car crash is being remembered and an online fundraiser has been created.
According to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III, Taunton Police received a 911 call last evening at approximately 10:15 p.m. reporting that a vehicle was operating at a high rate of speed in the area of North Walker and Winthrop Street in Taunton when it struck a utility pole and guardrail, left the roadway and entered the Threemile River at 396 Winthrop Street.
Taunton Police responded to the scene along with the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council Dive Team and State Police Detectives assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.
After a water search, investigators were able to locate the vehicle, a white Nissan Maxima, in the river with one occupant inside. That occupant, later identified as 24-year-old Alec Ardita of Taunton, was pronounced deceased on scene.
There was a continued search of the waters in the area of the crash as the investigation revealed a second occupant was likely in the vehicle at the time of the crash. Due to worsening water conditions overnight, the SEMLEC dive team suspended search efforts, which resumed in daylight hours Tuesday. The second person, a male, was located deceased, but has not yet been identified.
Ardita is being remembered as kind and someone who enjoyed riding his motorcycle and bicycle. Friends expressed how much they will miss him and that he was someone who was there for them.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been organized for the family.
The investigation into this matter is active and ongoing by the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office and the Taunton Police Department.
