Truck fire that killed Narragansett man 'incendiary'
2:45 PM Mon, Nov 23, 2009 | Permalink
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Get the 7 to 7 on your mobile at www.projo.com. Twitter: projo | RSS | Email alerts PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Narragansett father who burned to death in his pickup truck two weeks ago had caused the fire that killed him, the state fire marshal's office determined on Monday. Terence W. Ashworth, 37, died in a fire that erupted in his Ford truck at the park-and-ride off Boston Neck Road in North Kingstown just before dawn on Nov. 11. Passers-by had seen the fire and pulled Ashworth out of the truck in an attempt to save his life. But he was pronounced dead at the scene. The fire's cause was incendiary, said state Fire Marshal Jack Chartier. Ashworth's body, his clothing, and the inside compartment of the truck were "substantially" covered in gasoline, Chartier said. "We believe the fire was caused by the victim," he said. The investigators had ruled out any suspicious causes early on. As the state fire marshal's office worked with the North Kingstown police and fire investigators, they also excluded accidental causes, Chartier said. There were no mechanical problems that could have ignited the fire. They also found no mechanical problems with the truck, Chartier said. Although the cruise-control component had been recalled on this truck model, Chartier said the investigators removed the component and examined it for problems, and found nothing. Samples returned from the Rhode Island crime laboratory showed that gasoline had caused the fire. The state fire marshal's determination came a week after Ashworth's funeral. "Our condolences go out to the family," Chartier said. Ashworth had been married 11 years and had two sons, Charles, 6, and Daniel, 4. In an interview two days after his day, Ashworth's wife, Meredith, had remembered his kindness and love for children, his dancing abilities, and his desire to serve his community. Ashworth was elected to the Narragansett School Committee last year and belonged to its subcommittees on parks and recreation, and health and wellness. Before becoming a private contractor, he'd worked as a director at Ocean Tides, a residential school for at-risk boys in Narragansett. He was buried at St. Francis Cemetery, in South Kingstown's Peace Dale section, last week. 
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I, and I am sure a lot of other people, am surprised at how this turned out. The stories printed before did not give any indication that Mr. Ashworth was dealing with any issues that would have lead him to do this. How tragic for the family and his two young sons.
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How do they know he did this and not someone else? I can't imagine anyone picking that way to die.
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You won't post my comments but you post comments of people who didn't even know Terry and seemingly free to voice their opinions. Great write-up. I'm sure this falls under the category of breaking news that the public must know.
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I, for one, am relieved that it was not Spontaneous Combustion of a Ford Truck. The public needs to know these things so we can feel safe in our vehicles.
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Nice of the Fire Marshall to let the Journal print this before he passed the information of his "findings" onto the family via the NKPD. Is he just looking to glorify himself with an important headline? This was not started by the driver intentionally. Keep investigating.
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This article is drivel, as is usual, from this publication. The information you post here is not fully validated. The authorities involved in this case are not convinced that the truth is known at this point. Anyone who knew Terry also knows that this conclusion is not accurate. Several comments posted here even wonder at the possibility of someone being able to comprehend this sort of end to one's own life. If a truck engine blows up, there will of course be gas residue. And what if a contractor had a gas can in his truck?...wow that would be a stretch I guess! Don't believe everything you read.
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I hope that Terry will be remembered for the kind, warm family man that he seemed to be. I met Terry only a few times several years ago, but have been greatly affected by news of his passing. My thoughts and prayers go out to Terry's family in their time of loss.
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The death of Terence Ashworth was indeed a horrific event and should not have happened period. I would not beleive anything that poeple are saying because anything could have happened. All we should be doing is just praying for the family and freinds and hope that they will find a way to cope w/ the devastating loss.
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I HOPE THAT THE ASHWORTH FAMILY WILL HOPEFULLY FIND A WAY TO DEAL WITH THE PAIN. LIFE JUST IS NOT EASY ALL THE TIME, WHICH REALLY STINKS. MY CONDOLENCES TO MEREDITH, DANNY, AND CHARLIE.
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