A devastating car accident in Dartmouth on the night of January 5 has left the community in shock as 18-year-old Jacob Pothier lost his life. The incident occurred in the vicinity of Gulf Road at Smith Neck Road, where Pothier, a resident of New Bedford, was pronounced dead upon arrival at St. Luke’s Hospital.
The Dartmouth Police Department shared this heartbreaking news via a post on their Facebook page.
Emergency responders found Pothier and Martins unresponsive near the severely damaged Honda. Despite their immediate efforts to provide medical assistance at the scene, Pothier succumbed to his injuries. Martins, on the other hand, sustained serious, life-threatening injuries and was rushed to St. Luke’s Hospital, where her condition is described as “guarded.”
The Dartmouth Police Department Crash Reconstruction Unit, in collaboration with the Massachusetts State Police and Dartmouth Police Department detectives, has launched a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. The goal is to piece together the events leading up to the crash and determine the factors that contributed to this tragic incident.
The loss of Jacob Pothier has undoubtedly left a void in the hearts of his family, friends, and the wider New Bedford community. As the investigation unfolds, authorities will work diligently to provide answers and, if necessary, take appropriate actions to prevent similar incidents in the future. Meanwhile, thoughts and condolences pour in for the families affected by this devastating car accident, as the community grapples with the pain of this untimely loss.
According to authorities, the fatal accident involved a 2022 Honda Accord, in which Pothier and another occupant, identified as 44-year-old Kathleen Martins from Dartmouth, were both ejected from the vehicle before the police arrived at 10:35 p.m. The crash site, located near a T-intersection surrounded by Apponagansett Bay, is in close proximity to the causeway leading to the village of Padanaram. Google Maps depicts this area as a stretch of two-lane roads, where the tragic incident unfolded.
