Editor’s Note: This story has been updated since it first posted.

Olivia Passaretti, a 17-year-old EGHS student, was killed in a car accident early Saturday morning, Supt. Alexis Meyer announced Saturday evening.

“Our hearts are heavy with this loss to our East Greenwich community,” she wrote in a letter to families.

A Mercedes sedan veered into a Nissan Altima on Route 95 south near the Route 117 overpass in Warwick Saturday just before 1 a.m., according to state police. Passaretti was driving the Altima, which was sent across the highway onto the grassy shoulder, where it hit a tree and rolled over. Warwick rescue pronounced Passaretti dead at the scene. 

The Mercedes spun several times, state police said, finally coming to rest in the breakdown lane. The driver fled on foot. Police are still investigating; anyone with information is asked to contact the Wickford Barracks at (401) 444-1064.

Supt. Meyer said the school district would offer support as needed for students and staff. This follows the death Dec. 21 of Rosalee Cambio, who attended EGHS last year, in a car accident in Providence.

“The East Greenwich High Crisis Response Team was convened this afternoon to plan supportive measures for students, staff, and families,” Meyer said. “As our school community processes this tragic news and works through the grief process, we will be offering support and counseling services to our students and staff at East Greenwich High School on Sunday 01/02/2022 and in the coming days and weeks. Counselors from across the school district, the community, and outside agencies will be on hand to support students and staff as needed. We have the resources to support our staff, students and families.”

Find Supt. Meyer’s full letter here: Community Notification.

Photo by Scott Rodgerson on Unsplash.