Two teenagers have died and another teenager is injured after a crash on Route 44 in Coventry on Monday morning and counselors are being made available to Coventry Public Schools students, families and community members.
Officers on patrol found a single-vehicle crash on Route 44 near Silver Street around 4 a.m. Monday. Police said the vehicle had been going eastbound, crossed the center line and hit a tree on the westbound side of the road.
The driver of the vehicle, later identified as 19-year-old Jacob Provost, of Coventry, was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. Provost was a recent graduate of Coventry Public Schools, district officials said.
The front-seat passenger, later identified as 16-year-old Olivia Cyr, of Coventry, was transported by LifeStar to Hartford Hospital, where she later died, police said. Cyr was a student at Coventry High School, the district said.
Olivia just turned 16 in November and was looking forward to getting her license and find a job, her mother, Melissa Riley, said.
“Olivia was a sweet, vibrant girl and she had a free spirit,” Riley said.
Olivia’s stepfather, Jon Harris, said everyone loved Olivia and her little brother is going to be devastated.
“She was love by so many,” Harris said.
Coventry Public Schools Supt. David Petrone said the tragedy on Monday morning is devastating.
“They were just two great kids and any time something like this happens, it impacts so many people on so many different levels, depending on the relationship they have with them and certainly a great loss,” Petrone said.
The back-seat passenger, Samuel Smith, 18, of Coventry, sustained minor injuries and was released from the Hartford Hospital Monday, according to police.
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School district officials said counselors will be available both virtually and in-person for Coventry Public Schools students, families and community members in response to the deaths of Cyr and Provost.
“A loss of this magnitude is something that adults have a hard time processing and my heart goes out to all the young adults who are trying to make sense of this tragedy,” Petrone said.
Counseling sessions will be scheduled ahead of time by contacting the high school main office at (860) 742-7346.
In-person participants are asked to adhere to COVID-19 protocols, which include wearing a mask. The sessions will run Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Two young lives lost way too soon,” Riley said.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Anyone who might have witnessed the crash or has information is asked to call Coventry Police Department at (860) 742-7331.
