The joyous echoes of laughter and music from Falmouth High School’s senior prom still lingered in the air when tragedy struck just an hour later on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Ava M. Lodico, an 18-year-old senior known for her radiant smile and boundless kindness, lost her life in a devastating single-vehicle crash on Acapesket Road, a mere 10 minutes from the prom venue. The news has left the tight-knit Falmouth community reeling, as friends, family, and classmates grapple with the sudden loss of a young woman described as “the sweetest soul” whose vibrant spirit touched countless lives.
Ava was driving a white Range Rover SUV when, around 11 p.m., the vehicle veered off Acapesket Road near Casey’s Way, rolled over, struck a tree, and burst into flames. Emergency responders from the Falmouth Police and Fire and Rescue Departments rushed to the scene after receiving reports of a vehicle fire with a person trapped inside. Firefighters extinguished the blaze and extricated Ava, the sole occupant, from the wreckage. Paramedics requested a medical helicopter to transport her to an off-Cape trauma center, but adverse weather conditions made air transport impossible. Instead, Ava was rushed by ambulance to Falmouth Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. The loss of such a promising young life, just weeks before her graduation, has cast a pall over the community.
The prom, themed “Garden of Lights” and held at the elegant Coonamesset Inn, had been a night of celebration for Ava and her classmates. Friends recalled her dancing and laughing, her infectious energy lighting up the room. Erin Barr, a close friend, shared the surreal pain of the loss, saying, “We were all just dancing and having a great time at prom. It’s so upsetting that this happened.” Another friend, Jazzy Fernandes, received a call about the crash that night and raced to the scene, only to find it cordoned off by police. She later learned at the hospital that Ava had passed away. “It doesn’t feel real,” Fernandes said, her words echoing the disbelief felt by many.
Ava, the daughter of Joseph J. and Angela M. Lodico, was a beloved figure at Falmouth High School, where she was set to graduate on June 7. She had plans to attend UMass Dartmouth in the fall, aspiring to become a nurse—a career that would have allowed her to extend the same compassion she showed to everyone around her. Her friend Bea Mariani, who had been planning a joint graduation party with Ava, was devastated by the news. Mariani, who was on Martha’s Vineyard when she learned of the tragedy, took the first boat back to Falmouth, struggling to process the loss of her friend with whom she had just finalized their party guest list.
In the wake of the tragedy, Falmouth High School swiftly mobilized support for its students and staff. Counseling services were made available on Sunday, May 18, from noon to 2 p.m. at the school library, with additional therapists from the Falmouth Police Department, Falmouth Human Services, and the nonprofit Sharing Kindness on hand to provide grief support. The school extended these services into Monday, recognizing the profound impact of Ava’s death on the community. School officials, including Superintendent Dr. Lori Duerr and Principal Alan Harris, sent a heartfelt email to families, urging students to seek support and cautioning against the spread of unverified information during this sensitive time.
The Falmouth Police Department, in collaboration with the Cape Cod Regional Law Enforcement Council’s Accident Reconstruction Team and the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation, is actively investigating the cause of the crash. As of Monday morning, no official cause has been determined, and authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances leading to the accident. Acapesket Road was closed for several hours on Saturday night as investigators worked to reconstruct the scene, piecing together the events that led to the tragedy.
A roadside memorial has begun to take shape near the crash site, where friends and community members have left flowers, photographs, and handwritten notes honoring Ava’s memory. A wooden cross, carefully crafted and stained by her classmates, stands as a poignant tribute to her enduring impact. “She was so funny, constantly just laughter with her,” Mariani said, reflecting on Ava’s ability to bring joy to any moment. Fernandes added, “Ava was the type of person to help people she didn’t even know. She had so much to give.”
As Falmouth mourns, the community is coming together to support Ava’s family and celebrate her life. Her god-sister, Jada Rose, shared memories of their childhood, describing Ava as a “fun-loving and magnetic” young woman who was like a sister to her. The outpouring of love and grief underscores the profound loss felt by all who knew Ava, a young woman whose light shone brightly, even in her short time here. The investigation continues, but for now, Falmouth holds tight to the memories of a young woman whose kindness and laughter will not be forgotten.
