1 member of Holy Cross women’s rowing team killed, others injured in ‘serious’ crash in Florida
The team was training in Florida at the time, according to officials.
Grace Rett
One member of the Holy Cross women’s rowing team was killed, and multiple others were injured, in a serious two-vehicle crash in Vero Beach, Fla., Wednesday morning.
Grace Rett, a sophomore English and psychology major at the college and an Uxbridge native, was killed in the crash, Michelle Murray, dean of students for College of the Holy Cross confirmed in a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
Rett was sitting in the front passenger seat of one of two vans carrying members of the team at Indian River Boulevard and the Barber Bridge. The van, which had 11 student athletes and the team’s head coach, according to Murray, was traveling southbound at the time and attempting to make a left turn when it turned into northbound traffic. The van collided with a pickup truck, according to Vero Beach Police Chief David Currey in a press conference.
Rett was declared dead at the scene, the chief said.
“From my knowledge, she turned 20 years of age yesterday,” he said.
The college noted that Rett recently set a world record by rowing for 62 consecutive hours on an erg machine.
The crash happened around 7:28 a.m, according to Currey. Murray said six students and the coach remain hospitalized with “varying levels of injury.” The driver of the pickup was also transported to a hospital; Currey didn’t know his condition.
The rowing team was training in Vero Beach, according to Currey, noting that there were other teams from around the country there as well.
“Grace was a light to all who knew her,” Murray said. “She was incredibly passionate and hardworking.”
“Today, our community is faced with unimaginable tragedy and devastating loss. Everyone who knew Grace was touched by her warm heart, tenacious work ethic and inspirational drive,” said Holy Cross athletics director Marcus Blossom. “Our entire Holy Cross community is mourning today, and our focus is on supporting our Crusader students, families, faculty and staff, both here and in Florida. Our prayers are with Grace’s family and all those injured in today’s events. We ask for everyone’s thoughts and prayers.”
No charges have been filed as of Wednesday afternoon, the chief said.
Watch the full press conferences here:
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https://www.facebook.com/CBS12News/videos/597889801000191/?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARA42psAFkPQH3C8i0bDfVI4KzBFE53ucIeiLw12UJ95js7gAXPo0Bf7tLvs0eKGca5OxuJTMyPofRLJZxg3PQUzH6CWw0GZJMmISp5cQlGOnsKQo1JSjT1FnwPig2JCeRVSiztl7eBiEh9qIzDedrHWUMAVUIsyOvxHJILquZR0tjxtOZtc27w5RKjESy0qoJKtpqXkoUclMGRhr5QcWhOvfqiyltFUGZtBmMZlK8nE32oWrZM21PC9fEBZcgbFuEGA1Jb_MrRRBbuezqztcifhmSXShGEgaguiSprn8qnUjURCFrTc_m9XneRc8bybfMkRrj1_x_ridmxFDxyCRYFR&__tn__=-R
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