Ceremony rededicates memorial to Woonsocket teens killed in 1982

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WLNE) –A rededication ceremony in Woonsocket on Thursday for a plaque honoring three teenagers killed in a car crash in 1982.

A crowd gathered at the intersection of Diamond Hill Road and Walnut Hill Road in Woonsocket honored three teenagers killed at the intersection by a speeding driver.

It was the 43rd anniversary of the day that Drew Deziel, Denise Allard, and David Adams were killed while heading home from a graduation party.

Their car was hit by a driver being chased by Bellingham police.

City leaders, friends, and family honored them with the rededication ceremony.

“Tomorrow’s not guaranteed for any of us, so you need to talk to your family members, friends, loved ones and tell them how much you love them,” Mayor Christopher Beauchamp said. “That’s important.”

After another fatal crash in 2020, the intersection was reworked to improve visibility, and the sign was removed at that time.

Dawn Fontaine helped get the plaque back up in a different spot and set up the ceremony to honor her three former classmates.

That night, she said, she was not allowed to go to the grad party, but had seen Denise Adams that morning buying shoes with her mother.

“The next morning, I was awoken with the article in the newspaper showing the picture of what happened and I immediately recognized the sneakers that I saw Denise buy that day,” Fontaine said. “My heart is so full and so warm right now. I have goosebumps on a 90-degree day. I’m so blessed and happy that everybody is here.”