Principal announces victims in fatal crash Friday were Somerset-Berkley students, offers grief support

A crash that claimed the lives of two and has left one critical, involved former Somerset-Berkley students.

In a message sent by Active Principal Dr. Susan Brelsford, it is revealed that that the three victims were 2019 graduates of the school and the loss is a profound one for the community.

“It is with great sorrow that I, once again, must write to you with the saddest of news. Last night, there was a tragic car accident in Berkley involving three of our graduates from the Class of 2019. Two of the people in the car tragically passed away and one was taken to the hospital. At the request of the Berkley police department, I unfortunately cannot release names at this point. However, I thought it was important to reach out to all of you as I know that many of you have already heard the news and we are all grieving. I know you are all with me when I say that the families and friends of these three young people are in all of our thoughts and prayers.”

“While there are no words to truly convey the sadness over the loss of two of our own, I want all students and staff to know that we are all here for you, and for each other. While the current state of our world and school makes it difficult to be together as we normally would, we do need to grieve. Our counseling staff and administrative staff are available via email and we ask that you reach out to them. We are willing and available to set up virtual conferences to offer support, grief counseling, or just to talk. In this difficult and unprecedented time of social isolation, we are once again navigating through the unfortunate process of virtual grief support. Please reach out to us.”

Our emails are:

Jeffrey Schoonover (Superintendent) schoonoverj@sbregional.org
Susan Brelsford (Acting Principal) brelsfords@sbregional.org
Kim DoCouto (Assistant Principal) docoutok@sbregional.org
Kim Hebert (Berkley Middle School Principal) khebert@berkleypublicschools.org
Ann Nassiff (School Adjustment Counselor Grades 9 & 11): nassiffa@sbregional.org
Tracy Medeiros (School Adjustment Counselor Grades 10 & 12): medeirost@sbregional.org
Melanie Phruksachart (School Psychologist) phruksachartm@sbregional.org
Elizabeth Coogan (Director of Support Services) coogane@sbregional.org
Anne Bolduc (Guidance Counselor) bolduca@sbregional.org
Tanya McCarthy (Guidance Counselor) mccarthyt@sbregional.org
Alex Proulx (Guidance Counselor) proulxa@sbregional.org
James Judge (Guidance Counselor) judgej@sbregional.org

“My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. I miss you all and sincerely wish we could be together at school to support each.”

COMMUNITYNames, details, released concerning former Somerset-Berkley Students killed in Friday fiery crash