Bulldogs call off games following student death

Lawrence High School in Fairfield postponed its athletic events Tuesday night because of the death of a student who was killed in a car accident Monday night.

Joseph W. Violette II, 17, was killed when the vehicle he was driving went off a slushy road and hit a utility pole head-on, Fairfield police officer Paul St. Amand, the investigating officer, said Tuesday evening.

Six basketball games involving Lawrence and Brewer and two hockey games between Bangor and Lawrence, were postponed.

The Brewer freshman, junior varsity, and varsity girls basketball teams were to travel to Fairfield Tuesday. Brewer was to host the Lawrence boys.

The Bangor varsity and junior varsity hockey teams were to host Lawrence at Sawyer Arena.

The basketball games have not yet been rescheduled, Brewer athletic director Dennis Kiah said.

St. Amand said Violette, a Clinton resident, was driving east on Green Road in Fairfield and died at the scene. Violette was likely driving at an unsafe speed for the road conditions at the time, Violette added, but not at an excessive speed.

Lawrence High was scheduled for a half day, so students went home in the afternoon anyway. There was a moment of silence for Violette in the morning and grief counselors were available, St. Amand said.

St. Amand said he didn’t think Violette was involved in any athletics at Lawrence, but the school postponed its activities Tuesday out of respect.