A Dighton teen who was killed earlier this month when the pickup truck she was driving crashed into the front of a Taunton home is being remembered for her “nurturing heart.”
Savannah Salemme, 18, died after the Toyota Tacoma she was driving hit the front porch of a home at 168 Tremont St. on Sept. 19 around 10:15 p.m., the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said previously. The truck rolled into parked cars in the driveway of the home after impact and became fully engulfed in flames. She was declared dead at the scene.
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Savannah Ryan Salemme, was born in Weymouth on May 22, 2007, to Arianna and Matthew Salemme, according to her obituary. She was raised in Randolph and Stoughton before her family’s move to Dighton.
Salemme went on to study HVAC services at Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School, according to her obituary. She graduated from the high school earlier this year with the intent of pursuing a career in the field.
“Savannah’s zest for life shined through in everything she did,” her obituary reads.
Salemme was a fan of all types of music, and was known for putting a range of genres on her playlists to match her different moods, according to her obituary. She was also a keen navigator who loved to travel and explore new places, “always seeking adventure with a fearless spirit.”
“Her nurturing heart was evident in the love and care she gave her brother Leo and cousin Aubrey, taking on their care with grace and devotion,” her obituary reads.
Salemme could often be found hanging out with her boyfriend, Shawn, at the beach or working on cars and trucks together, according to her obituary. She was also a proud member of 603 Diesel — a truck meet club with whom she found camaraderie.
“Her kindness and bountiful curiosity left an incredible mark on family, friends, classmates and teachers,” her obituary reads. “Savannah was a beautiful, kind, loving and special lady whose light will continue to shine in the hearts of all who knew her.”
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In addition to her parents, Salemme leaves behind her younger sister and brother, her boyfriend, her grandparents and many other beloved family members and friends, according to her obituary. A memorial visitation is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 1, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cartwright Funeral Home in Randolph.
In lieu of flowers, Salemme’s family asks that donations be made in her name to Children with Hair Loss at www.childrenwithhairloss.org or Donate Life, New England Donor Services, at www.neds.org.
“In her memory, her family encourages everyone to take a moment to crank up a favorite song, embark on a new adventure or lend a helping hand, just as Savannah did with such joy,” her obituary reads.