The car accident that killed Amilton De Pina Semedo left Pawtucket and Central Falls in mourning.
The tragic car accident that claimed the life of 18-year-old Amilton De Pina Semedo on July 26 has left communities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island devastated.
Semedo, of Pawtucket, and his close friend, 19-year-old Kevin Dos Santos Lopes of New Bedford, were both ejected from their vehicle during a violent crash on Interstate 195 West in Dartmouth on Saturday afternoon.
Massachusetts State Police responded to the scene around 1:35 p.m. after receiving multiple 911 calls about a single-vehicle crash near Exit 19 at Reed Road.
When troopers arrived, they discovered a gray Chevy Equinox mangled on the roadside and found the two teens with life-threatening injuries.
First responders transported them to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, where both were pronounced dead shortly afterward.
Officials noted the severity of the impact, stating that the crash was forceful enough to dislodge the SUV’s engine.
Authorities have yet to determine what caused the accident, but they confirmed the incident is not considered suspicious. Investigators are still working to uncover more details.
The wreck prompted the closure of the center and right travel lanes on the westbound side of I-195, causing major traffic delays as emergency crews and investigators remained on site.
Video from the aftermath showed the heavily damaged vehicle being hauled back onto the highway.
In the days following the accident, Semedo’s family, friends, and former classmates gathered outside Central Falls High School for a moving celebration of life. Tuesday would have marked Semedo’s 19th birthday.
“It’s going to hurt for a long time, it’s probably going to hurt forever,” said his aunt, Monica Ze Barros, who spoke through tears during the vigil.
“My heart wants to melt just talking about him right now, but it speaks for how important he was.”
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Semedo, affectionately known as Thiago, was remembered as a compassionate young man with a bright future.
He was an active student at Central Falls High School, where he proudly participated in the Cape Verdean Student Association and played on several school sports teams.
Jessica Monteiro, a school social worker who had known Semedo for years, called him “very caring and very kind,” adding,
“He’ll be watching over his family, his mom, his brother, and the students of Central Falls High School.”
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His bond with Lopes ran deep. “They were thick as thieves,” Ze Barros said.
“They were brothers and they loved one another.”
WPRI
In the wake of the tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $4,500 to help Semedo’s mother, Tairine De Pina, with funeral expenses, grief counseling, and other unexpected costs.
The page describes Semedo as “a bright, kind, and loving soul whose life was taken far too soon.”
Community members are rallying around the family, offering both emotional and financial support.
Organizers of the fundraiser emphasized that “no parent is ever prepared to lose a child,” and urged others to donate or share the campaign to show solidarity with the grieving family.
As the investigation continues, loved ones mourn the loss of a promising life and lean on one another to find strength during this heartbreaking time.
