By JON BAKER

LINCOLN — At the tragic scene outside Lincoln High School Friday afternoon, it seemed that everyone was dazed and confused.

At about 2:45 p.m. Friday — 50-plus minutes after the final dismissal bell had sounded — a school employee, apparently distraught after being either laid off or fired, was killed after his vehicle plowed into what had been the front entrance to the former middle school.
Though students involved in sports and other after-school activities were still on campus at the time, most had already arrived home. Rumors and speculation abounded as to exactly what happened and why. Several teenagers watching firefighters and police take charge offered their takes on the tragedy.
“I heard a teacher drove himself into the school,” said one sophomore boy as he strolled across Tiberii Field in front of the high school. “I was down by the track when it happened, and I saw the smoke from the back of the building. A friend of mine told me it was a huge sound.”
Stated freshman Connor Smith: “I was in the auditorium for band practice, and all of a sudden, we saw the lights flash for the fire alarm. We all ran out the back of the building. I didn’t hear an explosion. As I got outside, I turned around and saw black smoke coming from the building. It was pretty scary.”
A few students said they believed they knew the victim, referring to him as a student aide or “scribe.”
“If it’s who I think it is, I was just in class with him; it was pre-calculus,” said senior Amanda Marcotte. “He was taking notes for a girl who (needed help). He left the class about five minutes early, as he usually does, and helped the girl out.
“I think this is pretty messed up,” she continued. “I really don’t understand what’s going on. I don’t know why he would want to do this. It doesn’t make any sense.”
Sophomore Cory Harrold wasn’t in the building at the time of the crash, but he had heard talk as to who the victim might be. “I don’t know if it’s the guy, but I was talking to that aide (Thursday) about normal stuff,” Harrold said. “He was pretty cool, and never forgot a face or a name. He seemed in great spirits.”
Contributed classmate Troy Ray: “I just heard a normal crash; it wasn’t a big bang or anything (like that). We saw smoke and flames coming out (of the old middle school entrance), and we were confused as to what was going on.
“This is unreal,” he added. “It’s ridiculous. I’m really shook up right now … I don’t know if it’s the same guy, but he was a student aide, and takes notes for students who can’t do that, kids who are injured and can’t write. He was actually happier (Thursday) than I had ever seen him. He didn’t talk that much, but I think he was coming out of his shell. He seemed really, really happy.”
The crash was the second tragedy to strike Lincoln High School in just under a year. Last Oct. 15, beloved sophomore student-athlete Marissa Lorea was killed in a car accident 1.5 miles from the school, at the intersection of Wilbur and Longmeadow roads. The vehicle had been driven by her cousin, Andrew Bessette, who allegedly was speeding at the time.
Minutes after the incident, police and fire personnel swarmed the scene as students, teachers, parents and others looked on from a distance.
At the same time, Police Chief Brian Sullivan and Town Administrator T. Joseph Almond were seen speaking with police and fire officials, while Schools Superintendent Georgia Fortunato and High School Principal Kevin McNamara hustled about, offering support to anyone who seemed to need it.
Some spectators were on cell phones; a few others were consoled with hugs on the Tiberii Field bleachers. One woman began crying in another’s arms as she searched for her daughter.
When told that most students and teachers had left the building at 1:50 p.m., and that no one was injured, a smile came to her face.
“You see someone every day, and you don’t think something like this could happen, not here,” Ray said.