March 29, 2024

Fundraiser for Hit and Run Victim’s Family

Posted

A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for the family of a woman killed in a hit and run accident. Randy Souto is aiming to raise $35,000 for the Surette family.

Souto wrote: On September 12th the Surette family was sadly changed forever. While out for an evening walk with her son JJ, Antonieta (Toni) Surette the wonderful wife of Jay Surette was struck and killed by a hit and run driver. Toni was a loving, caring, hard working mother and wife. She cared for her family and friends deeply as well as her coworkers and everyone she came in contact with. She was the life of the party and certainly did not deserve an ending such as this. Jay and Toni have been together going on 20 years and had many great years ahead of them which has now come to this tragic end.

As of Monday morning, 678 donors had raised over $30,000.

Seekonk police said 37-year-old Antonieta Surette was struck on Newman Avenue at about 6:45 p.m. Thursday. Vargas died at Rhode Island Hospital. Prosecutors said she was walking with her 11-year-old son. A witness told NBC 10 News that he saw the boy run over to the victim, yelling, "Mommy! Mommy!" "It was pure chaos. I saw the car going -- I screamed at the guy to stop. He just continued to keep going and I believe the lady that was behind him. I yelled at her and I believe she chased him down," Dana Johnson said.

At about 11 p.m., investigators found what appeared to be the gray Jeep Grand Cherokee involved in the crash off of Newman Avenue near Rumford Towers. The SUV had damage on the front passenger side. The suspect, Jeremy Schmidt, 27, of East Providence, was arrested by Rhode Island State Police at about 4:30 a.m. Schmidt waived rendition during his appearance in Providence District Court as a fugitive. He will be returned to Massachusetts to face charges of leaving the scene with death resulting, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and a marked lane violation. Schmidt’s arraignment was scheduled for Monday in Taunton District Court.

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