Mansfield community remembers victims in carbon monoxide accident
By Bianca Buono
@BBuonoABC6
The Mansfield community came together Sunday afternoon to remember the lives of four young adults killed in a tragic carbon monoxide accident. The accident happened one year ago when the group of four was at a cabin in Maine celebrating a birthday and a graduation.
The victims were Brooke and Matthew Wakelin, Deana Powers, and Keith Norris.
"I have two children of my own so I don’t know how she’s dealing with it. I really don’t,” said Sue Wallace, a family friend.
"That’s a loss that most of us can’t grasp,” said Pastor David Arruda.
Wakelin’s pastor helped organize Sunday’s memorial at the South Common in Mansfield.
"The idea of this was to give everybody that opportunity after pretty much the dust settles just to say goodbye,” said Arruda.
The dozens who came out in support wrote messages on balloons.
The tremendous loss of four young lives has inspired Linda Wakelin to try and prevent it from happening again. She’s starting a non-profit called “Silent Sleep” to save others from the dangers of the silent killer.
"This is the last time I want to do a service in remembrance of children because of something that could have been prevented,” Arruda said.
As a reminder, people should check their carbon monoxide detectors twice a year to make sure they are working.
© WLNE-TV 2016
