“She was pure light.” Community mourns 17-year-old killed in New Year’s Day crash

A candlelight vigil was held in remembrance of Olivia Passaretti Tuesday evening.

EAST GREENWICH, RI (WLNE) –

A moving memorial tribute honored the life of 17-year-old Olivia Passaretti Tuesday evening sharing photos, stories and somber moments during a candlelight vigil.

“It’s a tragic loss. Olivia was a wonderful kid, nicest personality, and the effects are going to be felt for a long time,” said East Greenwich Highschool Principal Kenneth Hopkins.

Passaretti had been tragically killed just after 1 A.M. on New Year’s Day after her Nissan Altima was struck by a driver under the influence in a hit-and-run. That driver, 30-year-old Aramis Segura, was found hiding under his bed in Charlestown prior to his arrest over the weekend.

Just hours before Tuesday night’s vigil, Segura was charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, driving to endanger resulting in death, obstruction of justice, and operating on a suspended license.

A neighbor to the Passaretti family described the teen as being “pure light,” reflecting on memories the two shared together. “She was the first person I came out to. She was so proud of who she was and I strive to be half of what Olivia is,” said Thomas Simonetti. “She had nothing bad to say about anyone, she was so kind to every person she met.”

Principal Hopkins credited Passaretti’s softball teammates for organizing the vigil, held on the same field she frequently played on. “Kind of the spark of life that she had, she was friendly with all different peer groups within the school. Just one of those kids that had a magical personality and could relate to anybody.”

A GoFundMe created for the victim’s family has raised over $14,000.