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New Haven County native Nicole Ende, of Milford, died Thursday, June 2, at the age of 37 when the truck she was riding in lost control and drove off an Orange County highway before flipping onto its roof, according to WCAX in Vermont.
Investigators believe mechanical failure may have been to blame, as witnesses told police the tractor-trailer's brakes were smoking just moments before the crash, Vermont State Police said.
Ende was pronounced dead at the scene while the driver, Dante Elliott, age 46, later died at a hospital. Troopers said neither person was wearing a seatbelt.
A 2002 graduate of Joseph A. Foran High School, Ende went on to become a certified phlebotomist, according to her obituary.
She was an avid New York Giants fan and enjoyed nothing more than spending time on the beach with family and friends, her memorial said.
"Nicole was the sweetest person you ever met," said friend Loray Elliott. "She will truly be missed. She had a heart of gold and only wanted the best for everyone."
"Nicole was a social butterfly," reads her obituary. "Her bubbly personality and contagious smile will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her."
Funeral services for Ende will be held Wednesday, June 15 at 11 a.m. at St. Agnes Church in Milford.
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