‘The sweetest soul’: 18-year-old killed in crash on Cape Cod after attending senior prom

FALMOUTH, Mass. — An 18-year-old high school senior was killed in a single-vehicle crash in Falmouth late Saturday night.

According to police, officers, as well as the Falmouth Fire and Rescue Department, were called to the scene of a single-vehicle fatal accident on Acapesket Road.

The driver was Ava Lodico, a senior at Falmouth High School, family said.

Before the crash, Ava had spent the night with her best friends at the senior prom.

One of her dear friends, Jazzy Fernandes, told Boston 25 News that she got a call Saturday night about Ava. She raced to the scene of the crash, but it was blocked off by cops, so she went to the hospital to be near her friend before learning Ava had passed away.

Fernandes said, “It doesn’t feel real.”

18-year-old high school senior killed in single-vehicle crash in Falmouth 18-year-old high school senior killed in single-vehicle crash in Falmouth

“It’s just so upsetting that this happened and extremely surreal. We were all just dancing and having a great time at prom,” said one of her close friends, Erin Barr. “She was just the sweetest soul to everybody.”

On Sunday afternoon, friends and family gathered and prayed at the crash site. They set up a memorial filled with flowers and photos of Ava.

“I was on the Vineyard when I heard about this, and I just took the first boat that I could and came here,” said one of her best friends, Bea Mariani.

“We were going to have our graduation party together, and we made a list of everybody we were going to invite. She was just looking forward to this so much.”

Loved ones told Boston 25 News that Ava had planned to attend UMASS Dartmouth this fall to study nursing.

“I think we all need to keep our heads high and hold the love she spreads with us,” Barr explained.

Police released few details, but said counseling support will be available today, Sunday, May 18, at the Falmouth High School Library from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

There will be additional counselors and therapists from the larger community available, including the Falmouth Police Department, Falmouth Human Services, and Sharing Kindness.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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