Community coming together to help family of 15-year-old killed in Portsmouth collapse

Portsmouth, RI —


The community is coming together to help the family of a 15-year-old killed in a tragic incident over the weekend.

According to Major Mike Morse, at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, officers from the Portsmouth Police Department responded to 35 Power Street for a report of a structural collapse with multiple injuries. Upon arrival, officers joined personnel from the Portsmouth Fire Department already on scene. The incident involved a concrete landing located at the top of an exterior stairway on the north side of the building, which led to the second-floor entrance of the Portuguese American Club. The landing detached from the building and collapsed downward, ultimately settling perpendicular to the ground and trapping two juveniles beneath it, a 15-year-old female and a 17-year-old female, both from Portsmouth.

Tragically, the 15-year-old juvenile lost her life as a result of the collapse. The 17-year-old remains in critical condition at the hospital.

In addition to this tragic loss, three individuals that had been standing on the landing sustained injuries. A 19-year-old female resident of Little Compton was treated and released from the hospital, a 49-year-old female resident of Merrillville, Indiana remains hospitalized with serious injuries, and a 46-year-old male resident of Portsmouth suffered a minor injury and was not hospitalized.

According to a

GoFundMe fundraiser,

Kelly Nevitt “was a loving daughter, a loyal friend, and a kind soul who brought light and laughter wherever she went. Her smile and contagious laughter could brighten anyone’s day, and her spirit was full of hope, warmth, and compassion. Whether Kelly was expressing her passion for the arts in Colorguard or shining on stage, she touched the lives of everyone who knew her, and her absence has left an unimaginable void in our hearts.”

In addition to the online fundraiser, other residents and organizations are in the process of planning events to help.

The Portsmouth Police Detective Division is currently investigating the incident to determine whether any criminal factors were involved. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office is assisting with the investigation. The criminal investigation by the Detective Division is separate from the review being conducted by the building official and the town planner.