Police say a Massachusetts mother of three known as "Iron Mom" for completing several triathlons has died a month after she was struck by an impaired driver while standing on the side of a Rhode Island highway.
Rhode Island State Police confirmed Friday that 38-year-old Andrea Bosworth Alves, of Medway, Massachusetts, died Thursday.
Relatives say Alves was acting as the designated driver for a friend when she pulled over on Interstate 95 in Providence at about 2:20 a.m. on Oct. 22 to help her passenger.
Police say Yiranis Liz, 30, of Providence, lost control of her vehicle, veered into the breakdown lane, and struck Bosworth who was standing outside her vehicle.
After spending 32 days in the hospital, Alves passed away.
Roy Cervantes, who owns Grace’s Bicycles in Holliston, says he still remembers the day Alves walked into his shop 3 years ago.
"She was crazy tenacious and fierce," Cervantes recalled. "We thought she would have another week or maybe two but she passed away on Thanksgiving Day."
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Alves earned the nickname "Iron Mom" after her third ironman triathlon.
Cervantes remembers how hard she would race, even when she wasn't in the race.
"She would run down to the bottom of the hill and run up with each athlete and encourage them and help them and made sure they were ok as they struggled up that hill," Cervantes said. "She will always be with me. She’ll always be with the shop."
Liz has been charged with driving under the influence. State police say they will work with prosecutors on upgrading the charges.
