AMID TRAGEDY, TEAM LIFTS EACH OTHER UP
Teammates’ deaths rock Needham track squad
Needham High track teammates of two girls who died after they were struck by one or more cars Saturday rallied and competed yesterday in their honor.
Talia Newfield, 16, died Saturday night after the fatal crash at the intersection of Webster and Holland streets about 6:30 p.m., in front of the high school. Adrienne Garrido, 17, died yesterday from her injuries, according to Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey’s office.
Track teammates gathered at the high school yesterday, where counselors, teachers and other adults were talking with kids, before they boarded the bus to compete at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Roxbury.
“The Rockets wore black and white ribbons with ‘TN & AG’ written on them to honor their teammates,” Needham Schools’ Athletic Director Daniel Lee said in a statement. “This was a challenging and emotional day for the athletes, coaches and everyone whose life had been touched by Talia and Adrienne. They were two special girls, who will be truly missed by all who knew them.”
Needham High Principal Aaron Sicotte told the Herald, “There were kids who were heartbroken ... some students were directly and very significantly impacted.
“Today was a reminder that the importance of a team goes much deeper as the members were supporting each other. And the coaches were phenomenal,” Sicotte said.
School Committee Chairwoman Heidi Black said, “There was a tremendous amount of grief and sorrow. Many girls were deeply shaken. They were hugging each other and consoling each other ... . It was always understood they were going to participate, once they had a chance to come together, to honor their friends. We’re extremely proud of how they came to that decision, though we would have supported them if they chose not to compete.”
Needham police Chief John Schlittler said there were no charges as of yesterday. Morrissey said police are “looking at more than one driver. It’s a complicated set of circumstances that they have to translate to try and figure out exactly what happened.”
Morrissey said investigators “will look at every aspect of the investigation from mechanical defect to road conditions, lighting — all of the things you would expect them to look into . ... All I can say is no arrests have been made. It’s an open and active case and determinations will be made in the near future as to whether there will be charges or not.”
‘There was a tremendous amount of grief and sorrow. Many girls were deeply shaken. ’ — HEIDI BLACK Needham School Committee chairwoman