Four victims of fiery Avon crash identified

WFSB-TV Eyewitness News ^ | August 2, 2005 | AP

[LurkedLongEnough]

AVON (AP) -- The names of all four people killed in Friday's fatal accident in Avon have now been made public.

The dump truck driver has been tentatively identified as 41-year-old Abdul Raheem Naafi, also known as Terrance Stokes, who had a Stamford address.

The chief medical examiner's office says 60-year-old Maureen Edlund of Canton and 54-year-old Barbara Bongiovanni of Torrington were killed in the wreck at the bottom of Avon mountain when the dump truck driver lost control and smashed into other vehicles.

Television and newspaper reports identified a third person who died, 42-year-old Paul "Chip" Stotler, of New Hartford, a father of five daughters.

[muir_redwoods]

The truck and the trucking company were trouble. The truck had been pulled off the road with service issues many times and the company was cited a half dozen times recently for a variety of violations. Lastly, the driver was on the job only a week. I think he had too much truck for his skill level and the hill he came down is pretty steep with a pretty good right bend at the light at the bottom.

[Man50D]

Lighten up Francis! -- Sgt Hulka

Read post #39 and tell the family of Paul Stotler to lighten up. I only hope if you or someone you know is in a similar situation people will be more understanding and be more respectful than you have shown the victims.

[Man50D]

You can read minds?

I can read your posts. If you didn't intend to post what you thought then you should not have posted the comment.

[Man50D]

Pat yourself on the back. You care.

Apparently you don't.

[Man50D]

We don't get it because we are talking about something other than what you think we should be? I think maybe you don't get it.

The thread was about the crash nothing else. Out of respect for the victims and thier families it's reasonable and appropriate to stick to the topic. That's not asking too much. If you want to comment on something else then create another thread.

[brytlea]

Gosh, I'm sorry to hear that. My sympathies and my prayers to the families and to you.
susie

[StarFan]

Disregard my freepmail as I just got to your ping. How truly sad.

[brytlea]

The thread was about the crash nothing else. Out of respect for the victims and thier families it's reasonable and appropriate to stick to the topic. That's not asking too much. If you want to comment on something else then create another thread.

Thank you for playing thread monitor.

susie

[livius]

Thanks for the details.

[Man50D]

Thank you for playing thread monitor.

Thank you for caring about the victims and their families.

[aposiopetic]

Here it says a trust fund has been set up for Stotler's children. The address is posted at the linked site.

[eyespysomething]

I can read your posts. If you didn't intend to post what you thought then you should not have posted the comment.

And my comment was, in whole:

Bon Jovi's name was Bongiovanni.

And what was your problem with that?

[SlowBoat407]

Apparently you don't.

Apparently you have not been around long enough to understand that when a thread is started, any part of the story is liable to get a comment. If you must know, yes, I feel bad for the victims and their families. It is not for you or anyone else, however, to tell me how I'm supposed to feel or respond unless I cross I line of taste, standards or ethics, and that's what the mods are for. If I have commented inappropriately, be assured, there are people who've been here a lot longer than you who will come down hard and make sure I know that I screwed up. Until then, feel free to be sympathetic, but leave the rest of us to mark the news in the way in which it affects us the most.

[Man50D]

Apparently you have not been around long enough to understand that when a thread is started, any part of the story is liable to get a comment. If you must know, yes, I feel bad for the victims and their families. It is not for you or anyone else, however, to tell me how I'm supposed to feel or respond unless I cross I line of taste, standards or ethics, and that's what the mods are for. If I have commented inappropriately, be assured, there are people who've been here a lot longer than you who will come down hard and make sure I know that I screwed up. Until then, feel free to be sympathetic, but leave the rest of us to mark the news in the way in which it affects us the most.

I have a hard time believing if someone close to you were killed in that or any accident you wouldn't be so light hearted about it. I'm sure if you visited the sight where the accident occurred your perspective would change quickly. This situation derserves more sensitivity than the moderator normally allows. That's not too much to ask.

[nutmeg]

UPDATE: 7:08 PM EDT, August 2, 2005
Associated Press

Police: Truck Driver In Fatal Avon Wreck Had Criminal Past

Police believe the driver of the dump truck that caused a fiery chain-reaction crash in Avon had his license suspended for several months last year and had numerous brushes with the law.

Authorities on Tuesday tentatively identified Abdulraheem Naafi, 41, as one of four people who died in the accident.

Naafi also went by the name Terrance R. Stokes and his most recent address appears to be a homeless shelter in Stamford, police said...

The identification is pending verification by the chief medical examiner's office, said Avon police Capt. Mark Rinaldo. Police were still trying to contact Naafi's family on Tuesday.

At the time of the crash, Naafi was facing charges of drug possession, third-degree criminal trespassing and interfering/resisting arrest, according to state police records... Read entire article here

Avon, CT accident - Complete Coverage (Hartford Courant)

Please Freepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent Connecticut ping list.

[nutmeg]

UPDATE: 7:08 PM EDT, August 2, 2005
Associated Press

Police: Truck Driver In Fatal Avon Wreck Had Criminal Past

Police believe the driver of the dump truck that caused a fiery chain-reaction crash in Avon had his license suspended for several months last year and had numerous brushes with the law.

Authorities on Tuesday tentatively identified Abdulraheem Naafi, 41, as one of four people who died in the accident.

Naafi also went by the name Terrance R. Stokes and his most recent address appears to be a homeless shelter in Stamford, police said...

The identification is pending verification by the chief medical examiner's office, said Avon police Capt. Mark Rinaldo. Police were still trying to contact Naafi's family on Tuesday.

At the time of the crash, Naafi was facing charges of drug possession, third-degree criminal trespassing and interfering/resisting arrest, according to state police records... Read entire article here

Avon, CT accident - Complete Coverage (Hartford Courant)

[StarFan]

Apparently you have not been around long enough to understand

With his condescending attitude, I doubt he will last very long.

[StarFan]

A trust fund has been set up for the poor kids who range in age from 3 to 8. (see link in #51)

[solitas]

Muslim in the cockpit!!!

You are SO evil! LOL.

[solitas]

I wonder what "Terrance Stokes" looks like,

Y'mean NOW, or…earlier?