Felix Sacco's Story

SAUGUS - Investigators reported Wednesday that a 17-year-old male Saugus High School student "apparently jumped" from the Lynn Fells overpass into the southbound lane of Route 1 shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday.

The victim, Felix Sacco, was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he later died of his injuries.

By all accounts, Sacco was a quiet, shy kid who liked to play guitar.

That's who people were remembering Wednesday after, according to Massachusetts State Police, the Saugus High School senior died from injuries sustained when he jumped from the Lynn Fells Route 1 overpass near Kelly's Roast Beef.

A single white rose tucked into the chain link fence that runs along the north side of the overpass was all that marked the approximate spot where Sacco might have last stood.

Another white rose was tucked into the mail box at the family's house, which remained dark. Neighbors said the family had not been home all day.

Alexis Fafard, a classmate of Sacco's, was still reeling from the news Wednesday night.

"I'm just really shocked, I wasn't expecting that at all," she said. "I liked Felix. He may have been quiet, but he was a fun kid."

Fafard said she was in the high school band with Sacco, who played a bass guitar and did so with gusto.

"He was pretty laid back and was really into playing his guitar," she said. "It's really a loss to everyone." Rumors of a student's death had quickly spread around Saugus High Wednesday afternoon, but Fafard said she didn't find out the main details, or that it was Sacco, until she returned home from school and received a recorded phone message from the school's principal.

"No one had announced it at school, but we heard someone had gotten into an accident," she said.

Police and emergency crews had originally thought the same when they arrived shortly after 9 a.m. on a report that there was an "ejection from a vehicle."

Saugus Fire Chief James Blanchard said those who answered the call expected a car accident, but only found the 17-year-old in the southbound middle lane.

"The injuries were severe," said Blanchard. "We got there quite quickly, but there was no one there to say what had happened."

Dave Procopio, spokesman for the State Police, said a preliminary investigation indicates the 17-year-old committed suicide, but no final conclusions have been made.

Blanchard said many Route 1 overpasses have high fences to deter jumpers, but the one at the scene does not.

Kelly's manager Keri Rebidue said a witness to the incident said the teen landed in front of a truck that managed to stop on the highway.

The witness told Rebidue that the teen was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital with a head injury.

One teen-aged boy paced the sidewalk in front of the Sacco home. He was visibly upset, but declined to talk.

Drama teacher Nancy Lemoine had Sacco in her film class, but said she was only just starting to really get to know him through his essays.

"He was in the guitar club," she said. "He was just a nice, quiet, shy boy."

A number of students reportedly took the news hard and High School Principal Joseph Diorio said in a phone message to all parents that counseling would be available to students and staff in the guidance office.

The incident is under investigation by Troop A of the Massachusetts State Police, the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, the Essex County State Police Detective Unit and the office of Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett.