Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III has announced a vehicle was found submerged last evening in the Taunton Threemile River after it drove off the roadway in the area of North Walker and Winthrop Streets.
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 will resume in daylight hours today.
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.
