Name released of Taunton woman killed in crash on Route 24, services, balloon release, announced

Authorities have released the name of the woman who was killed in a multi-vehicle crash on Sunday.

According to Dave Procopio of the Massachusetts State Police, shortly after 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Troopers from the State Police-Middleborough Barracks responded to a multiple-vehicle collision on Route 24 southbound in West Bridgewater. The crash resulted in the death of a young woman.

Preliminary investigation indicates that a southbound 2008 Toyota Camry, for reasons still under investigation, struck the median barrier separating the north and south sides of the highway and came to rest in the center lane. The operator of the Camry, 21-year-old, Jada Martins of Taunton, exited her vehicle to inspect damage to the car. While she was outside her vehicle, the Camry and Martins were struck by a 2008 Jeep Liberty being operated by a 24-year-old Braintree woman. Following that impact, the Jeep then struck a 2003 Nissan Altima being operated by a 47-year-old Bridgewater man, rolled over, and then struck a 2005 Audi A6 being operated by a 30-year-old Brockton man.

Martins, who was a pedestrian when she was struck, was determined to be deceased at the scene. The operators of the Audi and the Nissan, both of whom were wearing seatbelts, were not injured. The operator of the Jeep, who was also belted, suffered minor injuries and was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital.

The loss of Martins is being felt throughout the area.

Jada, who was active in the community and known as a cheerleader both on and off the field, is being remembered by family and friends as someone who was full of life and always had a smile on her face while trying to put that same smile on the face of others.

Jada was enrolled in the nursing school program at the University of Massachusetts Boston and was working at the COVID-19 Testing Site in Quincy. Jada was also working at the Raynham House of Pizza and at the Cheer Legacy Gym.

According to Hathaway Funeral home, calling Hours for Jada will be held on Friday, December 11, 2020 from 4-7pm in the Crapo-Hathaway Funeral Home, 350 Somerset Avenue, Taunton. (staff will guide people into the funeral home) Her funeral Service will be held on Saturday December 12, 2020 at 10am in the funeral home for immediate family only. The family has requested that extended relatives and friends gather in the funeral home parking lot at 10am to form a funeral procession to Mayflower Hill Cemetery for burial with a balloon release. (Facial Coverings and Social Distancing are required in the funeral home and at the cemetery. No gathering in groups will be permitted in the funeral home parking lot or at the cemetery.)

The crash remains under investigation by Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police, the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and the Plymouth County State Police Detective Unit, the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section.