FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A 20-year-old member of Holy Cross college women’s crew team was killed and several of her teammates were seriously injured when their van crashed in Florida.
Vero Beach police say the rented transport van was carrying roughly 12 students when the driver made a left turn into the path of a red truck Wednesday morning.
“Our officers pulled three of the girls out of the vehicle,” police spokesman Darrell Rivers said. “They were actually trapped inside the van.”
He said the female passenger in the front right seat was pronounced dead at the scene. College spokesman John Hill identified her as Grace Rett. She celebrated her 20th birthday Tuesday.
All 12 people were taken to the hospital, including the driver of the van.
“There were a couple of critical and some very serious injuries. I’m just going to leave it at that. Some already had surgeries,” said Rivers, who said the girls’ families had been notified and many were already on their way to Florida.
The college, which is located in Worcester, Massachusetts, planned to hold a meeting on campus Wednesday afternoon for students who wanted support, saying chaplains and counselors would be available.
Rivers said the preliminary investigation reveals that both vehicles had green lights and the van should have yielded to the truck. The driver of the truck suffered minor injuries.
Dean of Students at The College of the Holy Cross, Michele Murray, spoke through tears during a press conference in Worcester Wednesday after a gathering with several hundred students at the school about Rett's death.
"Grace was a light to all who knew her," Murray said. "She was incredibly passionate and hard working.
"This is a terrible loss for our community," she continued. "Together we pray for her family and for all who knew her."
As of 4:40 p.m. Wednesday, Murray said the Holy Cross team's coach and six students remained hospitalized with varying levels of injury.
WGBH News Staff contributed to this report.
