Family Mourns East Haven 17-Year-Old Megan Povilaitis, Killed In Crash

EAST HAVEN, CT —Just 17, with her life ahead of her, Megan Nicole Povilaitis died in a car crash in Branford last Thursday. The accident on Hosley Avenue also killed two brothers, Robert Dudchik, 22, and his younger brother Anthony, just 19, of East Haddam. But Robert Dudchik had recently moved into East Haven as he landed a job as a flight attendant for Avelo Airlines at Tweed New Haven Airport.

“On behalf of the town of East Haven, I offer sincere condolences to the families of the young people lost in the recent tragic car accident. We have learned that two of the individuals lost in the devastating event were residents of East Haven," East Haven Mayor Joseph A Carfora said in a statement. "The death of these young souls is so very difficult to comprehend. Our thoughts and prayers need to be with all who are impacted by this tragic loss."

Povilaitis was an East Haven High School student and a former girls' tennis team player. Her mother, Teresa Gagliardi, told Patch that Megan "loved to play tennis."

And, as a creative, she was also an aspiring tattoo artist.

"She would tattoo herself and her friends. She'd draw things and tattoo them on her leg or arm," Gagliardi said.

Megan, the youngest of Gagliardi's three children, "Lived life her way."

"I always told her, don't let anyone try to control you or put you down. Be your best person you know how to be," Gagliardi said. "One of the last things she said to me was, 'There are no pauses in life, there is only Play.'"

A mother in deep pain, Gagliardi said words escape her these days: "There is so much to say about her, it's just hard to find the words. She was just amazing."

Megan loved animals. "She'd take in every stray she could and find them a home," her mother said. And, Megan was a "recycling fanatic."

When asked how she and her family are coping, Gagliardi said it's hard not to feel lost.

"We barely eat or sleep. We find ourselves crying and fighting not to cry. We just lean on each other in disbelief," she shared. "Each day is a struggle."

GoFundMe hopes to raise money for funeral expenses

A GoFundMe has been created by Megan's friend Jamie Wandell to raise money to cover funeral expenses.

"Megan is incredibly smart, beautiful, and confident. She is such an influential person to all who know her, as she continues to inspire others to be themselves and never care what others think," Wandell wrote on the appeal.

"The money that is raised for the family will be going towards funeral and service expenses," she wrote. "My hope is to help as much as possible and help to relieve some of the stressors as family and friends mourn the tragic loss of such a beautiful soul."

To date, around $3,000 has been raised of the $10,000 goal.

GoFundMe is a Patch partner.