CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) — A man and a woman from Providence died Wednesday night after they were involved in a crash in Cranston.
According to police, 21-year-old Jovanni E. Delgiudice was riding a “motocross racing motorcycle” with 20-year-old Yasmary Valdera on the back when they collided with an SUV just after 8 p.m.
A memorial set up at the scene of the crash continued to grow Thursday as family and friends of the victims gathered to remember their lost loved ones. The two friends loved their families, they said, and both were good people who had a lot to look forward to in life.
Valdera’s cousin, Ariana Alba, told 12 News she was a student at RIC, enjoyed modeling, and had two successful businesses.
“She did nails and she did lashes as well,” Alba said. “She was home-based, but created her own office, her own business plan for both.”
“She was just a loving person, you know?” Alba added. “She just was a person who worked hard every day and really cared about what she did.”
Story continues below video.
Police said the preliminary investigation showed the bike was heading southbound on Broad Street and the SUV was taking a left onto Wheeler Avenue from the opposite side of the road. Delgiudice apparently tried to stop before hitting the front passenger side of the SUV.
“[The driver] didn’t see the motorcycle that was approaching her at that high rate of speed,” Col. Michael Winquist said Thursday. “It appeared the driver of the motorcycle attempted to brake; there was over 50 feet of skid marks. Unfortunately, the vehicle had impact.”
Delgiudice and Valdera were both thrown from the bike and later pronounced dead at the hospital. Police said they were not wearing helmets.
The bike had no headlights and witnesses said it was difficult to see, according to police. Witnesses also told police they saw the bike speed past them, make an illegal pass on the left and drive toward oncoming traffic.
Delgiudice had just gotten the bike the day before, Winquist said.
“But this type of bike, you wouldn’t be able to register it on the street, just because of the way it’s manufactured,” he explained. “The type of tires, it doesn’t have any turn signals, brake lights, headlights.”
Investigators are now working to figure out how fast Delgiudice was going prior to the crash. The posted speed limit in that area is 25 miles per hour.
The driver of the SUV, a woman in her 30s, was not injured in the crash. Police said there was no evidence of wrongdoing on her part and she will not face charges.
