Neighbors recount moments after Taunton crash that killed Dighton teen

TAUNTON, Mass. (WLNE) — A teen is dead after a horrific crash in Taunton late Friday night.

A pickup truck careened off Tremont Street, smashing into the front of a home around 10:15 p.m.

Taunton resident Kayla Stull lives right next to the home and saw the truck burst into flames.

“I saw a car on top of the other cars, the car became engulfed in flames,” Stull said. “People were yelling, that was the first thing that I noticed, and then I noticed my neighbor’s porch roof was completely torn down.”

The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said the teen driver from Dighton was killed in the crash.

The Dighton-Rehoboth School District identified her as Savannah Rian Ellis, who went to Dighton Middle School, and graduated from Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School this year.

The full statement from Dighton-Rehoboth Superintendent Bill Runey can be read below:

Dear Colleagues,

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Savannah Rian Ellis, a 2025 graduate of Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School and a former Dighton Middle School student, tragically lost her life in a car accident in Taunton last night.

I am told that Savannah was loved by many in our community—especially by staff who taught her and by DRRHS students who were her classmates and friends before high school. Her younger siblings are currently in-district, and we will rally around them and the entire Ellis family during this heartbreaking time.

School counselors and support staff are always available at school to assist students or staff who may need someone to talk to on this or other difficult circumstances. We encourage anyone affected to reach out and to lean on one another for comfort and strength.

In moments like these, the strength of the DR community shines through our compassion and care for one another. Please keep Savannah’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Officials have not yet released details on what led up to the crash, but neighbors told ABC6 heavy traffic and a dangerous curve have made accidents all too common.

“Usually it’s so frequent to the point where you’re calling 9-1-1 before you even see what the accident is,” Stull said. “Because you know you’re gonna need help.”

In the wake of tragedy, Stull said she hoped something will be done, to make sure a crash like this never happens again.