In Memory of Olivia Teixeira (Globe Article)

Here is an article from the Boston Globe on Sunday, 10 April 2005, amonth before Oliva was to turn 21.

2 SUVS CRASH, ROLL OVER
Author(s): Suzanne Smalley, Globe Staff
Date: April 10, 2005 Page: B5 Section: Metro/Region

Two young people died in separate car accidents Friday evening and early yesterday morning on area roadways, authorities said, leaving two large extended families grieving. Both accidents happened when the sport utility vehicles the victims were riding in rolled over.

Olivia Teixeira, 20, of Braintree, was killed at about 7:30 p.m. Friday after the Ford Explorer her father was driving on Route 95 in Attleboro overturned, and she was thrown from the vehicle. Paul Cappello, 21, of North borough, was driving near 415 Howard St. in Northborough around 2:30 a.m. yesterday when his vehicle left the road and struck a boulder, Northborough police said. Cappello's Chevy Blazer then rolled over, killing him instantly.

Teixeira's father, Olivio, 49, and mother, Rosalina, 47, were injured in the accident and were listed in fair condition at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence yesterday.

Family members said Rosalina Teixeira was undergoing surgery on her wrists and arms. State Police investigators said the crash occurred when Olivio Teixeira attempted to move from the left lane to the middle lane, nearly hitting another car. He then swerved back to the left lane, which caused him to lose control of his vehicle. Olivia Teixeira and her mother were not wearing seat belts when the SUV crashed, State Police said.

Olivia Teixeira's anguished relatives gathered yesterday at her grandparents' home, just down Birch Street from the house she grew up in, to mourn the girl they said had loved children and dreamed of moving to California to start a career.

Olivio Teixeira immigrated to Boston from Cape Verde in the mid-1970s, family members said, and the extended family spent most of their time with one another.

Bartolomeu Teixeira, Olivia's uncle, said the family was driving to the Pawtucket, R.I., home of Rosalina Teixeira's sister when the accident occurred. Olivia went because she had promised to help her aunt with a chore, Bartolomeu Teixeira said.

"This is a huge tragedy," he said. "Nothing like this has happened since we have been in America."

Olivia Teixeira graduated from Braintree High School two years ago, family members said, and recently worked at a day-care center in downtown Boston.

"She was quiet and loved kids," said her cousin, Elvira Correia. "She wanted to do a career with kids. . . . At her age, there were a lot of plans."

Family members said Olivio Teixeira is devastated by his daughter's death.

"The only thing he's repeating is that Olivia is gone," Bartolomeu Teixeira said.

In the driveway of Olivio and Rosalina Teixeira's home, a second SUV sits with rosary beads and a cross hanging from its rearview mirror.

Jeanne Harrington, who lives next door to the devoutly Catholic family, said that the Teixeiras are extremely close-knit and that their politeness and generosity are legendary in the neighborhood, where they have lived for 15 years.

Harrington said Olivia Teixeira attended Harrington's father's funeral with her parents, even though the girl didn't know her personally.

Harrington said that one of Olivia Teixeira's two younger brothers plays basketball at Braintree High School and that a favorite activity of the family is watching him play. "They did everything together," she said.