Why did they flee police? Relatives of men killed in Haverhill crash mourn

By Mike LaBella
Staff Writer

May 28, 2008 12:13 am

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HAVERHILL — Relatives of the two men who died in Monday's car crash on River Street, leaving five young children fatherless, said they are confused about why the crash happened.

Driver Jose Gonzalez, 29, of Haverhill and his friend Samuel Paulino, 28, of Lawrence were killed in the early morning crash. Police said Gonzalez was speeding on Interstate 495 about 12:30 a.m., when a state trooper followed him and then stopped him on Route 110. Police said Gonzalez then sped away, sideswiped another vehicle and eventually struck a utility pole before coming to rest after striking the corner of a two-family home at 447 River St.

Paulino's wife, Yahaire Otero of Lawrence, said she believes Gonzalez sped away from police because he did not have a valid driver's license.

Records at the Lawrence Police Department show Gonzalez was arrested last year and charged with driving after suspension of his license. Police said Gonzalez was driving a passenger in the 1990 Honda Accord when the crash happened. The accident is under investigation by state police.

Yesterday, relatives, including Gonzalez's mother from New York, gathered at the home of two of Gonzalez's sisters-in-law. Although she is not very fluent in English, Doris Bermudez, mother of Gonzalez, had no trouble expressing her feelings about the loss of her 10th, and youngest, child.

She wore a white tank top bearing the handwritten words, "Always in my (heart symbol), my son Tulu, 1978-2008."

His father nicknamed him Tulu when he was a child growing up in Puerto Rico because he was expected to be tall, just like his seven older brothers and two sisters, a family member said. Jose Gonzalez lived up to his name by growing to a height of 6 feet 7 inches. In the eyes of those who knew him, he was bigger than life.

"Jose was a loving, caring son, father and brother-in-law," said Gonzalez's sister-in-law, Migdalia Thomas of Haverhill. "He was a friendly, happy person who was always helping people."

Bermudez, of Amsterdam, N.Y., drove to Haverhill yesterday with other family members to share the pain she was feeling at the loss of her son.

Family members gathered at the Beacon Street home of sisters-in-law Jackeline Rosario and Sally Rexach to remember the man they said was a good father, a good husband, a good man and a friend to all who knew him. Gonzalez worked for a moving company in Bradford, they said.

Hours after Bermudez arrived she was joined by her son's wife, Yolanda Maisonette, who lived on 5th Avenue with her husband and their three children — Anthony, 14, Jerichol, 11, and Yanellis, 9. Maisonette told The Eagle-Tribune she was still too shaken to talk about her loss.

"My little son, my little son," Bermudez repeated with teary eyes as she hugged her daughter-in-law. "My little son."

"They were both good guys and they've never been in trouble," said Paulino's cousin, George Rodriguez, 29, of Lawrence.

Hours after the accident, friends and family of both men draped white sheets along the outside wall of the house where the car they were in came to a rest. Yesterday, friends and family continued their memorial yesterday by writing goodbye messages to Gonzalez and Paulino, who goes by the nickname of "Sosa."

Otero described her husband as a fun person who loved to have a good time. He worked in construction and specialized in demolition projects.

"He was always on the go. He had big hopes and dreams," said Otero, of 26 Fern St. in Lawrence.

The couple was separated and was trying to work through some problems, she said. They have two daughters — Shakira, 9, and Jayda, 3.

Paulino was supposed to visit her on Dominican Mother's Day, which was Sunday, but he never made it by, she said.

Jose Carabello, 28, said he is devastated by the loss of Paulino, whom he considered one of his best friends.

"He just had a great personality," Carabello said.

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