High School Senior Killed in Crash Just One Day After Prom: 'Feels Like a Cruel Joke,' Loved One Says
An 18-year-old senior at Falmouth High School in Massachusetts died after she was involved in a car crash on Saturday, May 17, authorities said
The victim has been identified by loved ones as Ava Lodico, who had attended prom the night prior
Lodico reportedly was expected to graduate on June 7, and planned to study nursing at UMass DartmouthA Massachusetts high school senior has died after she was involved in a car crash the night after she attended prom.
The 18-year-old Falmouth High School student was involved in the fatal crash on Acapesket Road on the night of Saturday, May 17, according to a joint statement from the Falmouth Police Department (FPD), Falmouth Fire and Rescue Department (FFRD) and Falmouth Public Schools (FPS).
Family has identified the student as Ava Lodico, according to ABC affiliate WCVB-TV and FOX affiliate WFXT.
Video from the scene, shared by the local outlets, showed the white Range Rover SUV driven by Lodico off the side of the road. The vehicle appeared to have slammed into trees, and the front end of the SUV sustained heavy damage.
Lodico's god-brother, Tayden Rose, told NBC affiliate WBTS that Lodico had attended prom the night before the crash. "It's just a shame,' he said.
Ava's god-sister, Jada Rose, said she and Lodico were 'really, really close' growing up. 'It feels like a cruel joke,' she explained. 'It doesn't feel real."
Graduation at Falmouth High School is scheduled for June 7, CBS affiliate WBZ-TV and NBC affiliate WBTS reported.
Loved ones told WFXT that Lodico planned to study nursing at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth.
"She was an amazing person; she didn't deserve this. Nobody deserves it this young," said Falmouth High School student Thomas Dean, per WCVB-TV.
Another friend, Bea Mariani, described Lodico as a 'funny' person. "It doesn't feel real," she said. "We were just planning a graduation a couple of days ago, and now it's just moving forward with loss."
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A third friend, Jazzy Fernandez, told the station that Lodico 'was the type of person to help people that she didn't even know.'
"She was just so full of life," Fernandez said. "In all these pictures, her smile is just so genuine. She was such a beautiful girl."
Counseling has been made available in the community following the fatal crash, according to the joint release from the FPD, FFRD and FPS.
Friends created a memorial at the crash site on Sunday, May 18, stated WBTS.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing. Police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
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