As New Bedford teen who just turned 18 is being remembered after fatal crash, police ask public not to spread rumors

DARTMOUTH, MA – Dartmouth Police are asking the public to not spread rumors as a New Bedford teen killed in a fatal crash is being remembered.

According to police, on Friday, at approximately 10:35 p.m., Dartmouth Police, along with other emergency personnel, responded to the area of Gulf Road at Smith Neck Road for a single vehicle crash with reported ejections.

Upon arrival, officers located both a male and female laying unresponsive in the roadway near a heavily damaged 2022 Honda Accord.
After being treated at the scene, both the male and female were transported to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, where the male, subsequently identified as 18-year-old Jacob Pothier of New Bedford was pronounced dead.

The female, subsequently identified as 44-year-old Kathleen Martins of Dartmouth, sustained life-threatening injuries and remains in guarded condition.

On Saturday, a statement was released from Michael Watson, GNBVT Superintendent/Director concerning Pothier, who was a senior at the school.

“The death of a person so young, no matter the circumstances, is a tragedy. It is the stark reminder of a life not realized. It is the loss of a son to his parents, the loss of a brother to his siblings and the loss of a peer to his friends. We know many members of the GNBVT community currently and in the days ahead may have a difficult time processing the loss of their friend and fellow student. For many of our students this may be the first time they’ve experienced the death of a friend or someone they knew close in age. To assist our students, staff and faculty, we have put in place several mental health counseling services to assist them in their time of grief.”

A GoFundMe fundraiser created by a family member has raised over $30,000 as of this writing and touched on the type of person Pothier was.

“Words cannot even begin to express the heartache my sister, Stacey Pothier, his father, Jason Pothier, and the entire family is facing. Nearly two weeks ago, we celebrated Jacob’s 18th birthday and Christmas. With the new year ahead, this was something wildly out of the realm of possibility in any of our minds.”

“Jacob touched so many people in ways we knew; but, in many more ways we never knew. The laughs and those blue eyes will live in my memory forever. Anyone who knows him, knows he is amazing athlete. From toddler years, I was shocked about how easy he could catch a ball! I’ll miss him more than I could ever express!”

On Sunday, Dartmouth Police issued a statement on social media in response to rumors circulating concerning the possible ties between Pothier and Martins.

“Though there have been quite a few rumors circulating on the socials about where the individuals involved in the fatal motor vehicle crash this past Friday were prior to the crash occurring, we HAVE NOT yet received a single call from anyone who can actually validate this information.”

“As this crash can be described as nothing less than both tragic and dreadful for not only the people involved in it, but also the families they left behind to pick up the pieces, we politely ask that people stop circulating meritless information, as it does nothing more than add to the angst and pain that these families are already incurring.”

As part of the investigation, police are asking that anyone who may have witnessed the involved vehicle (a white 2022 Honda Accord) operating in or near the town landing on the west side of the Padanaram bridge prior to the crash, please contact either Officer Brian Parent or Detective Kyle Costa.

Officer Parent can be reached at 508-910-1790 and Detective Costa can be reached at 508-910-1755.