Cumberland woman identified as victim in fatal auto crash

CUMBERLAND – Cumberland police on Tuesday identified Sara J. Laboissonniere, 25, of Cumberland as one of the two people killed in a horrific two-vehicle head-on crash on Pine Swamp Road Monday afternoon.

Police on Wednesday identified the second victim as Olga Millette, 57, of Woonsocket.

Chief Matthew Benson said members of his department and the State Police Accident Reconstruction Unit are still working to unravel all the details of crash occurring just before 1 p.m. on Monday.

Benson noted that Cumberland Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services were dispatched to the area of 210 Pine Swamp Road for a motor vehicle collision with two fatalities just west of the intersection of Pine Swamp and Diamond Hill Road.

Benson said the Ford Explorer in which Millette was driving, had just been involved in an accident at Wrentham Road and Pine Swamp near the Woonsocket line, and had continued onto the accident scene before the Diamond Hill intersection.

“That vehicle fled easterly and ultimately collides with the other vehicle,” Laboissonniere’s Volkswagen Jetta, Benson said.

The Ford Explorer ended up on its roof after the impact and passerbys at the scene attempted to free the victim inside but were unable to do so as fire erupted in vehicle. Laboissonniere’s heavily-damaged vehicle came to rest off the roadway, Benson noted.

“My understanding is that they checked on both, and the one that was on fire, I think they tried to help and extract the individual but it was unsuccessful,” Benson said of the bystanders’ rescue attempt.

Cumberland Police have been able to confirm that Laboissonniere’s vehicle was not the vehicle involved in the prior accident at West Wrentham Road and Pine Swamp while the investigation continues, according to Benson.

“Determinations relative to the crash scene from the Rhode Island State Police Accident Reconstruction Unit are still pending,” the chief noted.

It would be up to the reconstruction investigators to determine definitely if speed was a factor in the crash, according to the Chief.

“But anytime you have the amount of damage that was there, the resulting injury and that sort of thing, I would imagine it played a role but I can’t definitively say how much of a role,” Benson said. The investigation might show the vehicles to be within the expected speed limits for the location, and point more to the manner of impact, or some other factor, Benson said of the ongoing investigation.

“I don’t know, but it is certainly a possibility,” the chief added.

Benson described the accident as tragic and one that was difficult to comprehend. Laboissonniere was reported to be an active member of the local business community and known to many in the town.

“You have two losses of life, one being a young vibrant young lady by all accounts a tremendous individual the more I learn of her, and just tragic for her and tragic for her family. And, like I said, you also have another victim there who lost their life and whatever ripple effect that has on their friends and family, and loved ones,” Benson said.

“It’s just a sad day for the community, a sad day for those families and I think it is something everybody can emphasize with and appreciate,” the chief added.

Benson said there have been other accidents in the area of Pine Swamp and Diamond Hill over the years, noting that Pine Swamp Road, a wider state road, had a history years ago with issues of speeding along its straight quarter-mile run away from the Woonsocket line that was reduced with speed enforcement efforts in more recent years.

“We have a decent enforcement presence up there but that doesn’t negate all potential, so we’ve had a couple of things up there but nothing that is a habitual problem,” the chief noted.

“It’s just one of those things where you have kind of an open road in a rural area and some people tend to go too fast under those circumstances,” Benson added.

Mayor Jeffrey Mutter offered the same condolences when contacted about the crash on Tuesday.

“When I hear about these types of tragedies in my seat, you take them more personally than not. And I was just struck with your inability to kind of make sense of this and the grief that the families are suffering,” Mutter said.

The accident also prompted local residents to post condolences on the Police Department’s Facebook page.

Jodie Farrell wrote “Prayers to those affected by yesterday,” and Alicia Kelleher, “So awful. Such a tragedy. Prayers to the Laboissonniere family.”

“Heartbreaking on so many levels,” Beth Williams Free wrote. “My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Sara and those that responded to the crash which was difficult to witness. I can’t help but think of my girls who could have been on that road and how quickly a simple drive can turn deadly,” Williams Free added.

Michelle Kleh McIntosh offered her prayers for “Sara, her family, her friends and everyone in the community she touched.

“She was a very special person who will be remembered for many years to come,” Kleh McIntosh said.