The community gathered Wednesday at a service of remembrance on the 10th anniversary of the fatal Avon Mountain crash that killed four and injured 19 that day.
Avon officials held the service in honor of the victims killed and injured, civillians involved, families and others affected by the tragedy, community members and businesses who helped out and emergency crews who responded to the fatal accident on July 29, 2005.
"It started as a beautiful day. Something like it is right now. Maybe a little cooler than it is right now," said Avon Fire Marshal and Emergency Services Director Jamie DiPace, who was the Avon Volunteer Fire Department chief and incident commander on the day of the crash. "It's one of those top 10 days we all think about, top 10 weather days. At 7:38 a.m., police and fire were dispatched to a bad accident at the bottom of Avon Mountain. We quickly realized it was much more than a bad accident. It was worse than we had ever witnessed."
The brakes failed on an American Crushing & Recycling dump truck and the vehicle came barreling down Avon Mountain, smashing through the busy intersection of Routes 44 and 10. Truck owner David Wilcox had canceled the vehicle's insurance and he ended up going to jail on manslaughter charges. Abdulraheem Naaf, the truck driver, died in the crash.
"I was in the front row. Broke nine bones. I don't remember," Mark Robinson, one of the people injured in the crash, said.
Sirens sounded Wednesday just after 7:15 a.m., close to the time of the massive fatal crash. Following a presentation of the colors by the Avon Volunteer Fire Department Honor Guard, fire officials read off the names of five people killed as a result of the crash and rang a single bell after each one.
Four people, Maureen Edlund, Barbara Bongiovanni, Chip Stotler and Naafi, died the day of the crash. Torrington resident Frank Juan, was paralyzed and died three years later. His family says the crash precipitated his death. Juan, a softball player and umpire in Waterbury, was driving a commuter bus at the time of the accident.
"We are gathered here to remember those who began a perfectly ordinary morning journey, but unfortunately fate intervened," Avon Fire Chief Michael Trick said. "Lives were irrevocably changed that day, both for the families of the victims and those who aided the survivors. We offer here our prayers for the continued healing of the families of those lost as well as blessing to those who helped that day."
Avon officials said the memory of the crash remains fresh in the minds of residents and first responders.
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"Our folks from the fire department think about that a lot of time whenever they're going through the intersection," DiPace said. "We go through the intersection hundreds of times a year and it's always there."
Many family members of those killed were at the service to pay respects to their lost loved ones. Juan's children and relatives were there. The ceremony was filled with emotion and anger for some. Many say they still can't find peace even after 10 years.
"Helped me to imagine what the sounds were and what the first responders dealt with that day," Bill Farrel, the brother of one of the victims, said.
Frank Juan's son, Frank said "it's hard" to this day, 10 years later.
"Sometimes I can drive up the mountain, it doesn't bother me. Other times I cry," Juan's son said. "Theres been a big gaping hole in our family."
Rev. Joseph Piccirillo, chaplain of the Avon Volunteer Fire Department led the invocation and prayer of commendation and area religious leaders gave prayers.
"We think back and all of us have stood at this traffic light as we go about our daily travels and think back to what it must have felt like for those who were sitting their cars watching this tragedy about to unfold before them," Rev. Jay Abramson, of the Valley Community Baptist Church in Avon, said.
The parking lot of Boyles Furniture & Rugs at the corner of Routes 44 and 10 was be the scene of the memorial service Wednesday close to 7:15 a.m., the time of the crash. The furniture store was formerly the site of Nassau's Furniture, which another truck crashed through in 2007.
DiPace thanked emergency officials from neighboring communities that assisted, including Simsbury, Canton, Farmington and West Hartford firefighters and police and UConn firefighers, as well as American Medical Response and other ambulances and LifeStar.
Today is not only about remembering the crash that happened here, but also the changes that have made since including a runaway truck ramp that the state installed to make Route 44 safer in Avon.
