Seasonal & Holidays

State Police Give Football Jerseys To Teammate Hurt In Crash

Two boys were injured, and one youngster's mother died in the accident on the way home from a tournament in Florida.

PROVIDENCE, RI—The West Elmwood Intruders played in a national tournament at Disney World earlier this month. But on the way home, tragedy struck. In South Carolina, their car was in an accident, and the driver, coach and mother of one of the players, died. Her 10-year old son was hurt, as was a teammate, 11. On Friday, the state police tried to cheer them up with a special present, New England Patriots jerseys autographed by Gronk and Julian Edelman.

Maj. Christopher Dicomitis gave the youngsters the jerseys at the South Side Boys and Girls Club in Providence.

"Major Dicomitis presented the 10-year-old with a jersey autographed by Rob Gronkowski while the 11-year-old was given a jersey signed by Julian Edelman," said Laura Meade Kirk, state police spokeswoman.

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Steve Barbato, of Stevie B Sports in Warwick, donated the shirts, and Ron Caracchio, of Cranston's Edgewood Gallery, had them framed.

“I wanted to make sure they had some joy in their lives because every kid deserves to smile at Christmas,” Barbato said.

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Courtesy Photo: Rhode Island State Police

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