Cornish
Zachary Richards, 18, was traveling on Route 12A with his mother’s fiance, Daniel Churchill, 54, of Claremont, and Churchill’s mother, Patricia Churchill, 79, of Hartford, when their Ford Taurus collided with a Loomis armored transport truck, according to Richards’ mother, Corine Richards, of Claremont.
New Hampshire State Police Staff Sgt. Jayson Almstrom said Daniel Churchill was driving, while his mother and Richards sat in the back seat. None of the victims were wearing a seatbelt, Almstrom said.
Police have said Daniel Churchill appears to have crossed the centerline while driving northbound, crossing into the southbound lane and hitting the truck. The Loomis truck driver, Robert Santos, and his passenger were uninjured in the 2 p.m. crash.
Police still don’t know why the car may have crossed the centerline, and “may never know,” Almstrom told the Valley News on Friday. Police are not sure where the trio were headed.
The car’s airbags did deploy, Almstrom said.
Richards was a member of the Claremont Cool Cats Special Olympics program. He excelled in swimming, his mother said. He hoped to become a mechanic.
“He was a good kid,” Corine Richards said. “He was always willing to help.”
Stevens High School Principal Patricia Barry announced to the school community that one of the members of the senior class died in the crash.
“Zach Richards was one of three people who perished (on Thursday),” Barry said in an email to the school community on Friday. “We would like to take time today to remember Zach and to reflect on his time here at Stevens.
“He was a lively, funny and an outgoing young man, who brought smiles to those around him and who was very much looking forward to graduation. When one of us is lost, all of us lose a part of ourselves. Please take time to remember, talk, grieve and share in order to process your emotions around this event.”
Counselors were made available to students.
Daniel Churchill and Corine Richards had been together for about three years.
“He was a very good guy,” she said, having trouble finding the words to continue an interview and provide additional information about the victims.
Zachary Richards had been a member of the Claremont Cool Cats for about eight years, said Elizabeth Lemieux, swim coach and local program coordinator.
He participated in a number of sports for the program, including bowling, snowshoeing, basketball, track and field and swimming.
“He was a good athlete. He had come a long way in swimming. He was doing really well,” Lemieux said. “He had shown a lot of growth and maturity.”
He made the difficult decision to step down from the team recently because he landed a job at a restaurant.
Richards was a happy-go-lucky guy, she said, who often was seen walking in downtown Claremont.
“Everybody knew when Zachary was happy. He would just beam,” Lemieux said, breaking down. “He was just a sweetheart.
“It is going to be a great loss for the Claremont Cool Cats,” she continued. “The athletes are going to be crushed to hear this news. It is really devastating. Just devastating.”
Jordan Cuddemi can be reached at jcuddemi@vnews.com or 603-727-3248.