Family, friends remember Freetown man killed in motorcycle crash

April 7, 2019 6:25 pm

By: Amanda Pitts

alpitts@abc6.com

@APittsABC6

FREETOWN, Mass. (WLNE) – A week after a motorcycle crash on Route 24 took the life of a Freetown man, his family and friends remembered him with a memorial, and are warning other riders to be careful.

On March 30th, the lives of one Freetown family changed forever.

“This is one of the toughest things we’ll probably ever go through.”

Linda and Michael Brodeur got a call that Saturday that’s every parent’s worst nightmare.

Their son, 25-year-old Jagger Gibeault, had been killed in a motorcycle crash.

“That was the last two words I said to Jagger. Ride safe,” said Michael Brodeur.

Gibeault had been riding with friends when he crashed on a Route 24 on-ramp in Portsmouth. He later died at Charlton Memorial Hospital.

Gibeault left behind a 6-year-old son.

“I didn’t even know how I could live without my brother. Still, I don’t feel like it’s real,” said Chevon Nunes.

On Sunday in Gibeault’s hometown, his loved ones honored him, not by having a wake or a funeral, but by celebrating and sharing memories.

“I’ve been looking forward to honoring him, but dreading saying goodbye for the last time,” said Michael Brodeur.

“This is what we have left of our son. We only have 25 years of memories, and that’s why I want to hear everybody else’s. Because Jagger can’t give us any more,” said Linda Brodeur.

They say Gibeault was a daredevil, and that’s what ultimately led to his death.

“What he did was stupid. Period. It was dumb, and he’d be the first one to say that.”

They’re hoping his friends and others like him will learn from his mistake.

“Unfortunately, because they were with him and Jagger did this stupid thing of popping a wheelie, they’re gonna live with that image. I hope that they learn. Don’t go to the extent that he did, and know when to hold back.”

A GoFundMe has been set up for Jagger’s son, Mason. Jagger’s parents say, while it won’t replace Mason’s dad, it’ll help him go to college, and it’s what Jagger would have wanted.