Cambridge mourns passing of ‘promising’ young teacher who died from injuries sustained in a January crash
Sam Bixler, 29, died Wednesday from injuries he sustained after getting hit by a car in Central Square.
Cambridge Public Schools are mourning the death of a Cambridge Rindge and Latin School teacher, who died Wednesday from injuries he sustained after getting struck by a car in Central Square last month. District Superintendent Kenneth Salim announced Sam Bixler’s death in a letter to the school community Friday, describing the 29-year-old as a “promising young educator.”The Middlesex District Attorney’s office said Bixler was walking near 434 Mass. Ave. on Jan.13 when he was hit by a car just before 1 a.m. The Cambridge teacher was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston where he had been receiving treatment for his injuries until his death Wednesday.“The preliminary investigation suggests the vehicle was [traveling] in the direction of Harvard Square at the time of the crash,” the DA’s office said in a statement. “The driver, a 35-year-old from Cambridge, remained on scene.”As of Thursday, no charges have been filed related to the crash, authorities said.
High school mourns beloved teacher Sam Bixler, 29, who lost his fight to recover after being by a car in #CentralSQ. See https://t.co/SitFd18hPq. #CambMA #CRLS pic.twitter.com/B4CU4Bml7t
— Cambridge Day (@CambridgeDay) February 15, 2018
Rindge and Latin Principal Damon Smith told Cambridge Day that Bixler, who taught history, “demonstrated a strong commitment to expanding equity and opportunity” at the high school.
“He was thoughtful, energetic and easily connected with students and staff,” the principal told the publication. “He will sorely be missed, and I know it will be difficult for our community to understand and process this news.”
Julian Knight, an 11th grader at the high school, told Cambridge Day that Bixler was “an amazing teacher and extremely kind to everyone.”
“It was his first year at CRLS, but he was liked by many people and made AP Comparative Government a great experience,” the student said. “He was very knowledgeable and always willing to help students, and he’s going to be missed by a lot of people.”
According to his LinkedIn profile, Bixler previously worked in the Lawrence Public Schools and was an Urban Fellow for AmeriCorps.
The DA’s office said the crash that resulted in Bixler’s death remains under investigation.
