A late-night drive ended in tragedy for 24-year-old Alec Ardita after the car he was traveling in crashed into the Threemile River in Taunton, Massachusetts. Ardita was found dead inside the submerged vehicle, while authorities continued searching for a possible second occupant who may also have been inside when the car went into the water.
The crash happened shortly after 10:15 p.m. Monday, November 9, 2026, near the intersection of North Walker and Winthrop streets. According to investigators, Taunton police received a 911 call reporting a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed in the area.
Authorities said the vehicle struck a utility pole and a guardrail before leaving the roadway and plunging into the Threemile River. The impact sent the vehicle into the water, prompting an emergency response as crews worked to locate the car and anyone who might have been trapped inside.
After searching the area, emergency personnel located a white Nissan Maxima submerged in the river. One person was found inside. The occupant was identified as Alec Ardita, 24, of Taunton, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
But the discovery of Ardita’s body did not bring the search to an end. Investigators had reason to believe another person may have been riding in the Nissan when it crashed. That possibility prompted rescue crews to continue searching the surrounding waters for another occupant.
The search continued into the night, with members of the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council dive team working in difficult water conditions. However, worsening conditions eventually forced the team to suspend its underwater search until daylight. Officials said the operation was expected to resume Tuesday morning, November 10.
As the investigation continued, authorities had not publicly identified a possible second occupant or confirmed whether another person had been recovered. The circumstances leading up to the crash also remained under investigation.
For Ardita’s family and those who knew him, the news marked a devastating loss. A 24-year-old life has ended, while unanswered questions remain about what happened during those final moments on the road.
The search for the possible second occupant and the investigation into the fatal crash remained ongoing as of Tuesday morning.
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