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UPDATED: Lincoln Community Stunned After Deadly Car Crash at High School

AP

Story Created: Oct 3, 2008 at 3:02 PM EST

Story Updated: Oct 3, 2008 at 10:43 PM EST

LINCOLN, R.I. (AP) - A driver is dead after a car crashed into Lincoln High School and burst into flames.
     
Police said the car crashed through a side entrance Friday afternoon and drove into the building.
     
The students had been dismissed by the time of the crash. No students were reported injured.
     
Carmel Mendoza, a school secretary, said she and another employee tried to pull the driver from the car after it crashed.
Mendoza identified the driver as a special education teacher's aide, but police have not released the victim's identity.
 
ABC 6 News Reporter John Guice has the latest details from Lincoln, including reaction from witnesses on the scene...

Sunday, Oct 12 at 10:29 AM Paula wrote ...

If you read the paper. He left the school and came back when school was let out. He was not trying to hurt anyone but himself. I want to know why he got fired? My daughter was hit by a car in 2000. For 2yrs he tutored my daughter. Not only was he smart he was very kind and would not hurt a fly. R.I.P jay.

Sunday, Oct 5 at 8:43 AM Former LHS Student wrote ...

Yes, this is tragic, however everybody is saying "how nice" this person was (I won't say "man" for obvious reasons). What if the outcome was different and lets say...he killed some students while committing this act? How "nice" would he be considered then? He had no idea whether there were people on the other side of that wall and how far his car would go. He didn't care about anyone but himself. What if your kid was of victim of this senseless act? You still think he was "nice"?

Saturday, Oct 4 at 10:31 PM Katherine wrote ...

I cant believe this happened at the high school i graduated from in 04. it saddens me and scares me that it hit so close to home

Saturday, Oct 4 at 5:33 PM derek (lincoln) wrote ...

i know him i went to L.H.S he was a nice man

Saturday, Oct 4 at 3:11 PM former lhs wrote ...

I attended school with this individual at LHS before he transferred to Wheeler. He was harrassed and tormented by fellow students for being different. This is a good way to teach students about tolerance and respect to their fellow peers. I don't believe this is something that just happened. It has been brewing since childhood. He was not a violent person when I knew him, but he made sure someone would notice. It is a shame. A sad and sorry story.

Saturday, Oct 4 at 2:45 PM Anonymous wrote ...

So sorry that this young man had to resort to such a destructive solution to his problem. I hope that this young man was not pushed to this point because of a frustrated parent's complaint. Parents can force some teachers and aides to the brink, causing drastic behavior as a result. School administrators, please listen to the teacher's side not only parents who can be wrong. P.S. Lincoln school teachers and administrators, teach the children how to spell correctly, before they graduate.

Saturday, Oct 4 at 2:34 PM Sarah wrote ...

I am so sorry to hear that this happened... It was good to hear that no one else got hurt..

Saturday, Oct 4 at 12:15 PM Mindy wrote ...

its kind of amazing... to everyone that says that no one got hurt... what about the family that lost their loved one?? he is not hurting but im sure the family members are. my heart goes out to them... RIP sir.

Saturday, Oct 4 at 12:08 AM Jay wrote ...

So when do they plan on telling us the truth?

Friday, Oct 3 at 11:36 PM Ed from Providence wrote ...

I think people better think that wrote on this post. 1st to the person who why in Lincoln? Why not are you special? Tragedy's like this can happen anywhere. My prayers go out to the family member who committed suicide. Yes this was a suicide, now it is time to deal with these tragedie's. Someone decided a permenant solution for a tempoary problem. Next take the cellphones away from the kids. Teach your kids how to be indpendent, not always dependent on you. You won't always be there for them!

Friday, Oct 3 at 9:16 PM Hopeful for the future! wrote ...

I attend this school and it really hits close to home how at any moment something could happen like this! School is supposed to be somewhere where you can feel safe and learn and grow. Most students at LHS are at school and extracurricular activities more than they are at home. I feel that for Jon Paul the way that he handled his anger was wrong and that he should have brought dismay like he did! I hope that we can bounce back as a community and continue to be a growing and successful school.

Friday, Oct 3 at 9:01 PM Courtney wrote ...

I go to the highschool to and i'm shocked with what happend. So happy everyone is ok and I love you all.

Friday, Oct 3 at 8:43 PM Alyssa, Lincoln wrote ...

I go to LHS and I'm a junior. I could smell the smoke from my apartment and I had seen the person who did it the last period of the day. My dad is a fireman in Lincoln and he told me that the person who should remain nameless until his family is notified, poured gas all over the interior and exterior of his car and on himself before he rammed the car into the building.

Friday, Oct 3 at 8:39 PM Peter wrote ...

very sad RIP

Friday, Oct 3 at 7:28 PM Jess wrote ...

i was in the north office (righ where the crash happend), right befor the bell rong to go home. i was going to stay after school today but i didn't cuz i had a bad feeling about it and i also had to go home to do stuff. i fell so lucky that this didn't happen when it was school hours. thank God no one got hurt.

Friday, Oct 3 at 7:13 PM michelle wrote ...

I go to this school, I was actually standing in that exact spot a half hour before it happened, which is weird because I usually don't go over in that area anymore. I'm shocked, I can't believe another tragedy has hit our school again.

Friday, Oct 3 at 7:00 PM Jake wrote ...

I saw the vehicle fully engulfed in flames, I couldn't imagine this was happening! All i could think of was who was bhind the whell and did anyone get hurt? I was inside the school when the crash happened, the school reacted very quick to the situation. Thank god no one was injured.

Friday, Oct 3 at 6:02 PM JPolak wrote ...

I live down the street. Seeing something like this in Lincoln is really disturbing.

Friday, Oct 3 at 6:01 PM Anonymous wrote ...

WHY WOULD THIS HAPPEN IN LINCOLN

Friday, Oct 3 at 5:26 PM cullen wrote ...

i can't even belive that happend im just glad no one got hurt

Friday, Oct 3 at 4:48 PM DT wrote ...

My son left the school just 15 min before this happened. Too close for comfort.

Friday, Oct 3 at 4:41 PM Sheehan wrote ...

Wow. Awful stuff. I've been in that school before.

Friday, Oct 3 at 4:17 PM Evan wrote ...

I was there when it happened too, just thankful no students got hurt.

Friday, Oct 3 at 4:12 PM Louis (Lincoln) wrote ...

I can't believe that happen at my school. It a good thing everyone was OK.

Friday, Oct 3 at 4:04 PM Fonzi wrote ...

I go to this school and this is scary and sad what happened. Thank god no students got hert.

Friday, Oct 3 at 4:03 PM mel wrote ...

i was there wen it happened with my friend we heard a crash went to go see it and we smelt gasoline and heard a teacher say gasoline is pouring out so we ran in fear for our lives and got to the feild where we then turned around and saw the car light up on fire. we were cryin and devastated. i couldnt believe that its not everyday something like this happens in lincoln.

Friday, Oct 3 at 3:35 PM Cam wrote ...

i was there when it happened. scary stuff.

Friday, Oct 3 at 3:28 PM Dice wrote ...

my girl goes to that school

Friday, Oct 3 at 3:08 PM tony wrote ...

i go to that school thats very sad

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