Dec. 1 Crash Turns Fatal;

East Randolph Woman Dies

By Sandy Vondrasek

Louise Gallagher Stone, 34, of East Randolph, died December 14, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, two weeks after she was critically injured in a two-vehicle collision on Route 14 in Williamstown.

Stone, a single mother, is survived by her three children, who were also injured in the crash. The children, ages 12, 15, and 16, are now living with foster families in the East Randolph area, according to Randolph Union High School officials.

Police identified Christopher Magoon, Stone’s 16-year-old son, as the driver of one of the two vehicles.

Also injured were all three occupants of a 2001 Ford Ranger driven by Jeffery A. Hyde, 44, of Randolph Center.

In an update to their original report on the crash, state police in Middlesex reported this week that Stone was riding with her two daughters in a 1994 Ford Bronco driven by Magoon, at the time of the 4:15 p.m. crash.

Police said Magoon’s northbound Bronco crossed into the southbound lane of travel and collided with a southbound 2001 Ford Ranger operated by Hyde.

Magoon and his mother, who were not using seatbelts, were airlifted to the DHMC. Magoon, who had a broken pelvis, was discharged December 13. His mother died the following day as a result of multiple impact injuries, police said.

Following the crash, Hyde, his two passengers, and Louise Stone’s two daughters were taken by ambulance to Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin.

Magoon’s two sisters, who were in the back seat of the Bronco, had scrapes and bruises. Hyde had a broken leg, his son suffered a concussion, and his wife had minor injuries.

Police said Magoon’s inexperience, as well as driving too fast for road conditions, caused the accident. Alcohol was not a factor, police said.

Support for Kids

Louise Stone’s three children all attend local schools: The two girls are in the RUHS middle school, and Chris Magoon attends a program at the Randolph Technical Career Center.

In a fund drive organized by RUHS student services, faculty and staff contributed to a special collection mounted this week, according to Assoc. Principal David Barnett. That collection, which wrapped up yesterday, will be used to get Christmas presents for the three children, Barnett said.

A group of RUHS students have been making cards for the family, according to teacher Deb Lary.

According to Barnett, the three children are now under the care of the state Department of Children and Families.

Funeral arrangements and an obituary are pending. A picture of Stone and her children, and a tribute written by her daughter, Crystal, is printed on the obituary page of this week’s Herald.