Triple funeral planned for Arruda family, killed in Christmas crash
A triple funeral has been planned to honor the Arruda family, who were killed after a suspected drunk driver[1] hit grandparents and their teenage grandson head-on late in the night on Christmas Day.
Jacoby[2], 15, Donna[3], 68 and Floriano Arruda[4], 73, died in the days following the serious crash, which happened on Veteran’s Memorial Bridge in Somerset. Jacoby Arruda died that night at the hospital, while his grandfather died the next morning. Donna Arruda died days later on Dec.
29.
Jacoby Arruda was raised by his grandparents, and the three were beloved members of their community — Donna Arruda had worked in the Dighton-Rehoboth school system, where her grandson attended school and played football and baseball up until the family’s recent move to Seekonk.
The family’s obituaries listed Fall River as Donna Arruda’s hometown, and stated Floriano Arruda was from Feteiras, San Miguel, Portugal. Floriano Arruda had worked at Duro Finishing and Superior Trucking.
A funeral Mass to celebrate all three family members’ lives together has been set for Friday, Jan.
5, at 10 a.m. at St. John of God Church on Brayton Avenue in Somerset.
The Arrudas will be buried at Notre Dame Cemetery following the services.
Visitation hours will be held on Jan.
4, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Auclair Funeral Home at 690 S. Main St. in Fall River.
A 41-year-old man from New York City[6], who used to live in Somerset, was accused by the Bristol County District Attorney[7]‘s office of driving while drunk in the wrong direction on bridge, or Route 6, and colliding with the Seekonk family’s car. He also hit another sedan and injured two young women inside, state police said.
Adam Gauthier[9] has been charged with motor vehicle homicide while under the influence and manslaughter, in addition to OUI-liquor causing serious bodily injury, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, and wrong-way operation on a state highway.
Gauthier was arraigned at Saint Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford on Dec.
26, and was held on £100,000 cash bail.
He is set to appear in Fall River District Court on Jan.
9 for a pre-trial hearing, the district attorney said.
References
- ^ a suspected drunk driver (www.masslive.com)
- ^ Jacoby (www.masslive.com)
- ^ Donna (www.masslive.com)
- ^ Floriano Arruda (www.masslive.com)
- ^ Jacoby Arruda, 15, Mass. grandson killed in Christmas crash loved football, his grandparents (www.masslive.com)
- ^ 41-year-old man from New York City (www.masslive.com)
- ^ Bristol County District Attorney (www.google.com)
- ^ Woman dies after Christmas crash in Somerset that killed her grandson, husband (www.masslive.com)
- ^ Adam Gauthier (www.masslive.com)