Vigil held for UMass Dartmouth student killed in crash, new safety measures announced
DARTMOUTH — After a student was killed in a crash at UMass Dartmouth last week, the university announced changes to improve pedestrian safety on campus.
Frank Petillo Jr., a 19-year-old freshman, was struck and killed by another student on Ring Road last Friday. Students gathered for a vigil for Petillo Monday night.
When they ran out of candles, many of the 500 UMass Dartmouth students turned to their cellphone flashlights.
"My brother Frankie was one of the kindest, most funny, and honest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing," Lauren Petillo said.
His lacrosse teammates were also among those paying tribute.
"Frankie was a kind soul, always willing to do what he could do to help out the team, and he did it with a smile on his face," said teammate Steve Kolodko.
His death quickly drew attention to the perceived lack of safety on Ring Road, the school's main thoroughfare and Chancellor Mark Fuller on Monday announced several steps to make it safer, either right away or by the end of the academic year.
They include portable speed bumps, flashing speed limit signs, additional patrol cars, elevated speed tables and crosswalks, and concrete barriers to protect some walkways.
UMass also said it plans to build a new pedestrian walkway to connect the school to a nearby apartment complex.
Students say these changes are long overdue. "The speed limit is supposed to be 25," student Kyrillos Kedees said. "We really don't want that to happen again."
The university will be holding safety forums on campus all week long to get input from students, faculty, and staff about what else can be done to improve campus and pedestrian safety.
But Monday night was about Petillo, a freshman from New Jersey, and also Alexandra Landry, a grad student from Louisiana who took her own life just the day before Frankie died.
"Frankie's spirit will live on with us and through us as we continue to strive to do the right things in life as he did," said Dalton Soares.
Roughly 20 members of the Petillo family came to the vigil paying tribute to Frankie. And as they shared tearful hugs, his sister noted there were still important questions to be answered about his death.
"This is the worst thing that could have ever happened to me and my family," Lauren Petillo said. "He didn't deserve this, not a single bit."
No charges have been brought yet against the driver accused of hitting Petillo, also a UMass Dartmouth student, but police say they are expected in the coming days.
