Darius Theriault
Darius Theriault, 27, died on July 4 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in Shrewsbury. He is the son of Richard and Vita Theriault and brother of Minty Theriault, all of Lincoln. Darius grew up in Lincoln and played soccer, Pop Warner football and hockey in town programs. He graduated from Austin Preparatory School, attended Saint Anselm College and was finishing his degree at Framingham State University. Donations in his memory may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.
The following article ran on July 7 in the MetroWest Daily News and is reprinted with permission.
Friends remember Framingham man as kind, loyal
By Jim Haddadin
Daily News Staff
SHREWSBURY – The last time Shannon McGavin saw her friend, Darius Theriault, the 27-year-old motorcycle buff was doing what he loved.
Theriault celebrated Independence Day at a cookout in Framingham on Saturday, enjoying good food and good company.
When the skies cleared in the afternoon, Theriault left to escort his friend, Brian Brush, back home to Shrewsbury. Brush had recently moved into a new apartment and Theriault wanted to see it in person, relishing an opportunity to get his motorcycle back on the road, McGavin said.
“Anytime he could ride, he would ride,” she said.
Theriault revved up his 2004 Yamaha motorcycle and headed west, enjoying the sunshine, the breeze and the camaraderie of a midsummer bike ride with his buddies. Seated behind him, his partner, Victoria Tucker, wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his right shoulder. McGavin, 22, of Littleton, said it was an image she will long remember.
“He rode with a smile the entire time,” said McGavin, who was traveling close by as a passenger on another motorcycle.
After stopping by Shrewsbury, Theriault and Tucker were heading back east on Rte. 9 around 6:20 p.m. on Saturday when their motorcycle collided with the back of a 2010 Toyota Corolla near the Shrewsbury Commons apartments. The bike tumbled, then skidded off the side of the roadway.
Tucker, a 22-year-old art student from Woburn, died at the scene, according to Shrewsbury police. Theriault was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, where he was pronounced dead.
Police are still investigating the crash. No charges had been filed. The driver of the Corolla, Libo Chen, 28, of Shrewsbury, was not injured.
For those who knew Theriault, his death was a startling blow. He was remembered this week as an outgoing and loyal friend who put those he met at ease. McGavin said he was comfortable chatting with friends who shared his passions and strangers alike.
“(He was) the most kind-hearted, biggest-hearted person you would ever meet,” she said. “He could hold a conversation with literally anybody about anything.”
Theriault grew up in Lincoln and attended Austin Preparatory School in Reading, where he enjoyed competing in paintball matches and playing hockey, McGavin said.
He studied at Saint Anselm College, but did not finish his degree. He later settled in Framingham and transferred to Framingham State University. Friends said he was expected to graduate in December and took pride in his decision to further his education.
“It’s been kind of like a triumph,” McGavin said.
Outside of the classroom, Theriault formed fast friendships with those who shared his hobbies. He participated in a competitive paintball league, playing for a team called the Boston Ducks. Paul Dryden, one of the team’s assistant captains, said Theriault – who went by the nickname “Twitch” – was always the first person on the field for practice and the last one off at the end of the day.
In an email Monday, Dryden wrote that Theriault will be remembered for his “huge heart” and “unforgettable personality.”
“Darius was a driving force behind our team as well as the New England paintball community,” Dryden wrote. “Over the years, he played for countless teams in the region, and was universally known as a talented player with a huge heart and desire to grow the sport.”
The Boston Ducks will permanently retire his player number, 28, and his teammates will wear the number on a patch in his memory. The team also hopes to donate the proceeds of a charity paintball event to his family, according to Dryden.
Like Theriault, Tucker – known to her friends as “Torri” – was also reaching the end of her college career. McGavin said she was an aspiring tattoo artist who could often be found practicing her craft.
“She would sketch for days,” she recalled. “She would draw anything she could.”
McGavin said Theriault planned to propose to his girlfriend within the next several weeks. After witnessing Saturday’s crash, McGavin said she rushed to help the couple as they lay injured on the side of the road. When it became clear Tucker did not survive, McGavin said she tried to comfort Theriault with the memory of his girlfriend.
“I just kept holding his hand and telling him, ‘It’s all right. Go to her,’ ” she said.
After the crash, friends erected a small memorial along the side of Rte. 9, anchored by an American flag.
Brush said he was stunned by his friend’s death, particularly because Theriault made safety a priority.
Brush said he will remember his friend for his easygoing demeanor and engaging personality.
“You won’t meet another person like that,” he said.