Local
Taunton man, 24, killed after car plunges into Three Mile River; dive team to resume search for possible second victim
Alec Ardita, 24, of Taunton died after his Nissan Maxima crashed through a guardrail on Winthrop Street and sank in the Three Mile River Monday night. Authorities are searching the water for a possible second person who may have been in the car.
TAUNTON â A 24-year-old Taunton man was killed Monday night when the car he was driving left Winthrop Street, struck a utility pole and guardrail, and plunged into the Three Mile River, according to the Bristol County District Attorney's office.
The victim was identified as Alec Ardita of Taunton. He was found inside a Nissan Maxima that emergency crews lifted from the water late Monday, authorities said.
Investigators believe a second person may have been in the vehicle. A dive team searching the river was forced to suspend operations as water conditions worsened after nightfall, and the search was set to resume at daylight. As of Tuesday morning, it was unclear whether police had recovered a second body.
The district attorney said a call came in around 10:15 p.m. reporting a vehicle speeding. Investigators believe the car hit a utility pole and a guardrail before leaving the roadway near 396 Winthrop St., close to the river.
First responders converged on the scene near a bridge over the Three Mile River, and a large tow truck was brought in to pull the submerged car from the water. The crash remains under investigation.
The death is a reminder of the hazards along the Winthrop Street corridor where it crosses the river, and of how quickly rising water can complicate rescue and recovery efforts. Anyone with information about the crash or the possible second occupant is urged to contact Taunton police or the Bristol County District Attorney's office.