'I wish we had more time': Family is devastated after Christmas crash that left 3 dead

Floriano and Donna Arruda always had room in their hearts when it came to children.

When Donna, who worked in the cafeteria in the Dighton-Rehoboth school system, saw kids without warm clothes or a hot meal, she had to help.

“My mom loved all the kids that came through," said Lisa Napert, Donna’s daughter. "If there was a kid that didn’t have money, my mom would sneak them sandwiches and food, and make sure every kid had food on their plate and breakfast. She’d bring in jackets and gloves for kids.

“It’s just who she was.”

Donna, 68, died on Dec. 29 due to injuries she suffered in a devastating head-on car crash — a Christmas night tragedy at the hands of a driver accused of driving drunk. The wreck also claimed the life of her husband, 73, and their grandson, Jacoby, 15, an incident that has left the family devastated and the community grieving.

Paying respects: Funeral planned for three family members killed in Christmas night crash in Somerset

After tragedy, Arrudas gave grandson 'a better life'

Napert’s family has endured more than its share of heartache. In 2015, her brother Ryan died unexpectedly at age 28.

After the death of their son, they saw another child in need. It was a natural fit that Flo and Donna took care of Jacoby.

“[Ryan] lived with my parents when Jacoby was born. That’s all Jacoby knew, was my parents," Napert said. “My brother and I wanted to take over custody of him, but he wouldn’t have it. He wanted just to be with my parents.”

The three loved each other, and Flo and Donna doted on Jacoby.

“My stepdad was heavily involved with Jacoby’s sports, as he was with my brother who had passed away,” Napert said.

Flo gave generously of his time coaching kids at Fall River's Maplewood Youth Baseball League. Jacoby was a talented athlete. He played baseball at Dighton Middle School, and both baseball and football at Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School. Jacoby also lent his gifts to the Dartmouth Youth Football League and in AAU Baseball. And always on the sidelines were his grandparents cheering him on.

Baseball coach Claudio Raposo, in a public Facebook post, called Jacoby a quiet, good-natured young man who worked hard, “a great teammate and friend to the other boys.”

“Flo Arruda and Donna Trahan-Arruda were always there for him, their support unwavering,” Raposo wrote. “They would drop everything to make sure Jacoby was always there for his team. We enjoyed many great conversations on the sidelines about the game of baseball and how together we could make a difference in Jacoby's life. Their love and dedication to their grandson was exemplary.”

“They were the most amazing parents, grandparents. My mom was a great-grandmother to my granddaughter,” Napert said.

“They were trying to give Jacoby a better life, as we all were.”

Driver charged: Third victim dies after wrong-way Christmas night crash in Somerset

Family 'heartbroken' after Christmas night car crash

The three were traveling from Fall River to Somerset on the Veterans Memorial Bridge late on Christmas night in their Infiniti SUV when, state police said, a Range Rover being driven by Adam Gauthier, 41, formerly of Somerset, struck them head-on, leaving the car a wreck. Police said Gauthier was driving the wrong way – and that he was drunk.

Jacoby died that night at Charlton Memorial Hospital. Flo and Donna were taken to Rhode Island Hospital. Flo died the next day; attempts to save Donna were not successful, and she succumbed to her injuries three days later.

Gauthier is being held on $100,000 cash bail in the medical unit at the Bristol County House of Correction in Dartmouth. He faces three counts of manslaughter and motor vehicle homicide.

“I'm just so heartbroken,” Napert said.

Community comes together to grieve

If there’s any consolation to be found, it’s in the outpouring of love from dozens of people who have reached out online to say that over the years they’d known, admired and loved the Arrudas — co-workers from Flo’s time at Duro Finishing in Fall River, friends of Donna, teammates and coaches of Jacoby, people they knew from the youth sports scene and beyond. Flo and Donna were married for 38 years and have deep ties to the region.

"We have a village of people behind us, the enormous support from the community, my employer, my co-workers, my brother’s coworkers, our family,” Napert said. "It's very heartfelt to know that so many people loved my parents — and us, for that matter.”

A fundraiser has been organized by Cindy Fagundes featuring a night of Zumba at St. Brendan’s School in Riverside, Rhode Island, on Saturday, Jan. 6, from 6 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the door, and proceeds will go to the Arruda family’s estate. Napert said Fagundes knew Jacoby and the family through youth sports.

Napert’s family said they have discussed the possibility of organizing a memorial foundation in the Arrudas’ name to help the youth sports community — to help kids who can’t afford fees, or to help teams with expenses or keep up facilities.

“Nothing’s in stone yet, because there’s a lot of different things going on right now,” she said. “It’s a lot. Things are happening so fast.”

Whatever they do will be aimed at continuing their legacy of helping local children.

"Everyone knows the type of people they were. I didn’t realize how many people they knew and that loved them," Napert said. “I just wish we had more time.”

Dan Medeiros can be reached at dmedeiros@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News today.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Arruda family, community grieve after Christmas car wreck