Former Stoughton councilman identified as MassDOT employee killed in Route 24 crash

STOUGHTON – A former Stoughton city councilman has been named as the MassDOT employee killed on a Massachusetts highway on Saturday evening.

“A larger than life personality”

Dave Souza, 57, was clearing debris from an earlier accident on the median on the northbound side of Route 24 in West Bridgewater when he was struck and killed by a car. He was a district supervisor and had worked for MassDOT for 14 years.

“David had a larger than life personality,” his friend Anthony DeBerardinis told WBZ-TV.

Souza was also elected to the Stoughton City Council in 2014, where he served for four years and was considered a prominent figure in the city.

“David had this personality,” DeBerardinis said. “He would do something for the kids or sports or the police or anyone, even me. He wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

“All it takes is a fraction of a second”

The Stoughton Fire Chief said the crash that killed Souza was the fourth crash on Route 24 they were called to on Saturday. The driver involved in the crash remained at the scene, but it is unknown if he will face charges.

“They respond to these calls. He was probably on his day off and probably got the call that there was debris in the road. Dave being Dave said, ‘Hey, I’ll take care of it.’ The other guys were out there doing something,” DeBerardinis said. “You can be out there with lights, you can be out there and be seen, but it only lasts a split second. A car going 55 miles an hour can’t get out of the way fast enough.”