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    Police-Fire Reports
    Saturday, May 04, 2024

    Three dead in North Stonington wrong-way crash

    North Stonington — A wrong-way crash on the northbound stretch of I-95 between Exits 92 and 93 Wednesday night left both drivers and one passenger dead.

    Roger Noel, 85, Dorothy Noel, 83, both of Warwick, and Abigayl Lanphear, 17, of Westerly were killed in the head-on collision.

    According to a release from state police, several callers reported a wrong-way driver on I-95 north about 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, with reports of the crash coming in shortly after. Lanphear, driving south in the northbound lane, hit the car driven by Roger Noel head-on, police said.

    Dorothy Noel was in the front passenger seat at the time of the crash. Two additional passengers in the back of the Noels' car, Yvonne Noel, 56, of West Kingston and Cynthia Plaziak, 62, of unknown address, were transported to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital with injuries. Lanphear's passenger, Jada Laboy, 17, of Westerly, was transported to Rhode Island Hospital with injuries.

    Police said that both Lanphear and her passenger, Laboy, were not wearing seat belts at the time of the accident and were driving in a 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-class. The three passengers and the driver in the other vehicle, a 2017 Honda Accord, were wearing their seat belts.

    State police are continuing to investigate the crash. Anyone with information should contact Trooper Martin Sullivan at Troop E in Montville, (860) 848-6500.

    Westerly High School Principal Michael Hobin emailed WHS families about the death of Lanphear, though without naming her, on Thursday morning.

    "While she was not currently a WHS student, I am certain that she had friends at WHS and in the larger community," he wrote. "Additionally, any loss may be a trigger for others who have suffered loss in their lives, especially young adults. Please know that our guidance and support staff is prepared to support your son/daughter in any way possible today and in the days to come."

    Lanphear had left the Westerly school system last year to pursue a GED, The Westerly Sun reported.

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