Floriano Arruda, 73, and his grandson Jacoby Arruda, 15, lost their life in a horrifying head-on collision caused by an intoxicated driver this year, ruining the holiday season for one Massachusetts family. On the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge in Somerset, a horrible occurrence happened on Christmas night. In an effort to shed light on the tragic fallout from this senseless act, the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office has identified both the victims and the suspected culprit.
Jacoby Arruda, a 15-year-old Seekonk resident, was described by friends and family as a remarkable young man. Known for his respectfulness, athleticism, and quick wit, Jacoby had recently switched schools from Dighton-Rehoboth to Seekonk, where he actively participated in both junior and high school football. His sudden and untimely demise has left a void in the lives of those who knew him.
Floriano Arruda, Jacoby’s grandfather, and Donna Arruda, his grandmother, were a caring and supportive couple. Having lost their son unexpectedly in 2015, they took on the responsibility of raising Jacoby. Floriano, described as a kind and gentle soul, tragically lost his life in the collision. Donna, initially critically injured, succumbed to her injuries on Friday afternoon at Rhode Island Hospital, adding another layer of grief to an already shattered family.
Adam Gauthier, a 41-year-old New York City resident and former Somerset resident, has been arrested and charged in connection with the fatal crash. Gauthier, who was driving a Range Rover, collided head-on with the Arruda family’s Infiniti SUV. The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office has detailed the charges against Gauthier, including Manslaughter while Operating Under the Influence, Motor Vehicle Homicide-OUI Liquor, OUI-Liquor with Serious Bodily Injury, Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle, and Driving the Wrong Way on a State Highway.
Gauthier was ordered held on $100,000 cash bail during his arraignment at Saint Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford. After sustaining non-life-threatening injuries in the crash, he is set to appear in Fall River District Court for an initial pre-trial hearing on January 9.
The Massachusetts State Police received an emergency call at 11:00 p.m. on Christmas night regarding a collision on the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge involving a wrong-way driver. Preliminary investigations revealed that Gauthier was driving eastbound in the westbound lane on Route 6 while crossing the bridge. His Range Rover collided head-on with Floriano Arruda’s Infiniti SUV, resulting in fatal injuries for both Floriano and Jacoby.
Beyond the two vehicles directly involved in the crash, a third vehicle sustained front-end damage. The occupants of this vehicle suffered minor injuries and were treated at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River.
The investigation into this heart-wrenching incident remains ongoing, with various agencies involved. The Homicide Unit prosecutors, State Police Detective Unit assigned to DA Quinn’s office, State Police-Dartmouth Barracks, and the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section are working collaboratively to piece together the events leading up to the crash.
As the community mourns the loss of Floriano and Jacoby Arruda, the devastating impact of drunk driving is once again brought to the forefront. This Christmas tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of irresponsible actions behind the wheel.
The Arruda family’s lives have been forever altered, and the legal proceedings against Adam Gauthier will now seek to bring justice to those affected by this senseless act. In their memory, may we collectively strive for a world where such tragedies become a thing of the past.
