Tragic crash in Taunton kills two teenagers

TAUNTON, Mass. (WPRI) -- A tragic crash over the weekend claimed the lives of two teenagers. They were passengers in a Honda Accord that was carrying six young people when it crashed into a tree early Sunday morning.

"When the fire department arrived they found six occupants trapped in the vehicle and they used jaws of life to remove them from the vehicle," said Lt. Paul Roderick of Taunton Police.

Roderick said police received 911 calls about the wreck shortly before 12:30 Sunday morning on Bay Street.

Four of the vehicle's occupants were taken to Rhode Island Hospital in critical condition and two were pronounced dead at Morton Hospital.

According to police, the six were in Rhode Island earlier in the night trying unsuccessfully to get into a club, and were on their way home. Roderick said the driver got off Interstate 495 at Bay Street and crashed near 1870 Bay Street.

The front-seat passenger, 18 year-old Eden Macedo, and the left rear passenger, 18 year-old Jason Neto, were killed.

The driver, 24-year-old Nicolas Costa, and the other rear passengers - 18-year-old Ashley Rivera, 21-year-old Jose Rodriguez, and 19 year-old Chelsea Crancha - all remain at Rhode Island Hospital.

Police said none of the occupants were wearing seatbelts, and that Rivera and Crancha were sitting on the laps of Neto and Rodriguez, respectively, in the rear seats. 

A bottle of vodka, approximately two-thirds empty, was found on the floor in the front of the car.

Police said speed was a factor in the accident.

The crash was so loud, neighbor Ed Lemarche said his whole house shook.

"I heard the impact. Heard something shake and said what the hell was that impact?"

Taunton Police have not filed charges against Costa, but Roderick said the department has been in touch with the District Attorney's office and expects to make a determination on whether or not to charge him in the next few days.