VERO BEACH, Fla. — At least one member of the Holy Cross women’s rowing team has died after two of the team’s vans were involved in a serious crash in the team bus in Florida Wednesday morning, according to police in Florida.
A spokesperson for Holy Cross told Boston 25 News Grace Rett, 20, was the team member killed in the crash.
Thirteen people were injured in the crash, according to Vero Beach Police Chief David Currey. Several of the girls were flown to area hospitals with serious or life-threatening injuries. Police say Rett was pronounced dead at the scene.
The man who was driving the pickup truck was also taken to the hospital.
Currey said a large pickup truck collided with the front passenger side of one of the vans. According to police, Rett was sitting in the front passenger seat of the van when she was killed in the crash.
Vero Beach police say Rett had turned 20 Jan. 14, 2020.
Boston 25 News spoke with a woman who identified herself as the mother of one of the rowers. She said Holy Cross is flying her family down to Florida.
Over the winter break, which continues for Holy Cross until Jan. 19, Rett reportedly broke the record for the Concept 2 longest continual row in 62 hours and three seconds.
According to a preliminary police investigation, the vans were turning left from Indian River Boulevard to cross a bridge to the beachfront when the first was hit. Police say witnesses told them both directions of Indian River Boulevard had a green light at the time of the wreck.
Police say one lieutenant, who was first on the scene, pulled at least three of the women out of the van.
“It’s really unfortunate,” Vero beach Rowing Club Director Brian Colgan told TCPalm.com. Colgan told the outlet the team had visited Vero Beach for a mid-winter training camp.
Holy Cross officials are in contact with investigators in Florida and the school says they are in the process of gathering more information.
TCPalm.com reports a pickup truck crashed into the van carrying the team around 7:30 a.m., leaving some members of the team with life-threatening injuries.
Police told the newspaper nine people were in the van, including eight team members.
“Holy Cross has been in touch with the families of those students and coaches and is offering support for all those involved,” the school said in a statement posted to its website.
Members of the Holy Cross women’s rowing team were involved in a serious crash in Florida. This morning, members of the Holy Cross women’s rowing team were involved in a serious crash while traveling in Florida. The College is in contact with authorities in Florida and is in the process of gathering more information. We ask that you keep all those involved and their families in your prayers at this time. For those needing to talk to someone, the Office of College Chaplains and the Counseling Center are both open today.
— GoHolyCross.com statement