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Road race held in Stoughton to honor four local teens killed in crash

STOUGHTON, Mass. — A road race was held Saturday to remember four local teens who were killed in a crash last year.

Runners and walkers laced up their sneakers for Stoughton's Once A Knight, Always A Knight 5 K Road Race.

The event was held in memory of four student athletes - Christopher Desir, Eryck Sarblah, Nicholas Joyce and David Bell - who died in a car accident in East Bridgewater in May 2018.

"We just wanted to honor the boys. We wanted to give everything we had," said Kyle Stone, a Stoughton High School student.

Tim Davis, Stoughton's recreation director, said the weekend "is the anniversary of this tragic incident and we're really looking for some way to honor the boys. And what better way, knowing them, than through sport."

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Stoughton High School Principal Juliette Miller said the crash victims "were such a big part of our community."

"Our kids are hurting and they're missing their friends, classmates and teammates and they want to make sure everyone remembers them and everything they brought to their lives," Miller said.

Many of their friends and former teammates took part in the inaugural race.

"Seeing the community come together like this, it's amazing because this is something I never thought would happen," said student Savion Scott.

Student Danielle Marrocco said she ran to honor them.

"They were on my track team, and I didn't know them very well, but they were very good role models, and i wanted to run in their honor," she said.

The student say while their four friends are gone from their classrooms, they'll forever be in their hearts.

"The first couple of weeks after the accident happened, it was really rough," Stone said. "But to see the community, stores, teachers, students, faculty, other towns (come together), it was amazing."