In Wake Of Fatal Crash, A Somber Vacation Week

Ever since news broke of the , waves of sadness and concern have rippled through the two communities involved.

that crashed around 3:45 a.m. Sunday were from North Kingstown. Members of the 's upcoming musical "Footloose" delayed their Friday rehearsal to attend Michael Ruggieri's funeral services as many students were close with former theater troupe member Michael Ruggieri – one of the two 2011 NKHS graduates who died in Sunday's wreck.

Just up the road at , coworkers of . The cafe will be closed Saturday as staff and customers attend Healey's funeral services.

The effects of the crash have rippled into East Greenwich, where the accident that took the lives of two North Kingstown teenagers took place.

In ’s Wednesday afternoon, it was impossible not to overhear a young man’s too-loud voice talking through the crash with his older companion. Just off Main Street, someone has painted “RIP Mike Ruggieri” on the back window of a red pickup truck.

On Shippeetown Road, at the site of the crash, a shrine has taken shape. All day and into the night this week, people have come to the site to place flowers, a photograph, a cross, a candle, and to stay for a few minutes or maybe hours. The warmer-than-usual February temperatures have made that possible.

On Wednesday at dusk, Megan Therrien sat on the ground, wrapped in a sleeping bag in front of a white cross she had brought. She'd been there 2 and a half hours already and wasn't ready to leave yet.

“They were great people. They just enjoyed life,” said Therrien, a high school classmate of both Mike and Maddie. “They were always happy. Mike was a really funny guy. They were really loved.”

East Greenwich Police have released little information beyond the identities of the four occupants of the truck. The driver of the truck, Nicholas Whiteley, 21, remains in serious condition at Rhode Island Hospital. Christopher Mortin, 19, was hospitalized after the crash but has since been released.

Police said speed was a factor in the crash. It’s unclear when more information, including toxicology reports and an accident reconstruction, will be released.

“This is a continuing and developing investigation that will take a while to thoroughly complete,” said Det. Lieutenant Jeremy Fague. “I do not want any info to get out that would hinder this investigation whether this investigation leads to criminal or civil ramifications.”

The funeral for was held Friday, at 8:45 a.m., from the Russell J. Boyle & Son Funeral Home, in Warwick followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at, 275 Tower Hill Rd., North Kingstown, with burial in.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Madeline "Maddie" Healey is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Bernard's Church for relatives and family. Visiting hours are slated for 4 to 8 p.m. at on Friday.