WEST WARWICK, R.I. – A teenager was killed by a hit-and-run driver at the same spot where his 14-year-old friend had died in a car crash just hours earlier.
Andrew Coit, 18, was hit by a car after 4 a.m. Saturday as he played a guitar at a makeshift memorial to Darien Plass, 14, on West Warwick’s Main Street. Plass died after driving his mother’s minivan into a utility pole late Friday.
Plass’ friends said he had been drinking and took his mother’s minivan without her knowledge. Coit and other friends set up the memorial.
“He wanted to play one last song for (Plass), and that was the last time anyone saw him. He loved singing. He died doing what he loved doing,” said Coit’s friend, Dennis Sullivan.
Sullivan said mourners remained at the memorial until about 4 a.m., but Coit had stayed behind to play one more song for Plass by himself.
Florida: Display of victim’s picture
A judge has ordered a Bartow man who pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide to display a large picture of the victim in his home after serving two years in prison. Circuit Judge Robert Doyel told Arthur Pierce, 31, on Friday that the picture must be at least 2 feet wide and displayed prominently. It also must include lettering that says: ‘I’m sorry I killed you.’ The judge said that Pierce’s probation officer will be allowed to search his home at any time, and if the photograph is not displayed, it will be considered a probation violation.
D.C.: Edwards rejects sympathy
Presidential hopeful John Edwards says voters shouldn’t throw him their support just because his wife has cancer. “Do not vote for us because you feel some sympathy or compassion for us. That would be an enormous mistake,” the Democrat and former senator told CBS’ “60 Minutes” in an interview airing Sunday night. “The vote for the presidency is far too important for any of those things to influence it.” Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, announced last week that she has been diagnosed with a recurrence of breast cancer.
McCain lowers fundraising hopes
Republican presidential hopeful John McCain is lowering fundraising expectations, just days before the first money deadline that will provide a clear sign about which candidates are viable – and which ones are not. “We started late, our money raising, and we’re going to pay a price for it because we got off to a late start,” McCain said Saturday between campaign stops. The deadline for candidates to report their first-quarter fundraising is Saturday.
Texas: Two fall from cruise ship
A man and woman fell overboard from a cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico, about 150 miles off the coast of Galveston, early Sunday, but both were rescued after a four-hour search and appeared to be in good condition, a Princess Cruises spokeswoman said. She said the cruise line did not know how the 22-year-old man and 20-year-old woman fell overboard, although it appears to have been an accident.
Illinois: Cops in bar allegedly attack
Authorities are investigating claims that six off-duty Chicago police officers were captured on security cameras assaulting four men in a Chicago bar. Adam Mastrucci, Scott Lowrance and brothers Aaron and Barry Gilfand were playing pool at the Jefferson Tap and Grille on Dec. 15 when the off-duty officers attacked them, their attorney Steven Fine said. Lawyers did not say what may have prompted the alleged incident.
Michigan: Thief steals van and kids
A thief drove off in a minivan that was left running with three children, ages 6, 5 and 19 months, sleeping inside, but the vehicle was found minutes later with all three unharmed and still asleep, Superior Township authorities said. Police unsuccessfully searched for the person who stole the van.
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