The tragic Florida crash Wednesday that killed star Holy Cross rower Grace Rett has plunged the school community into mourning. Rett, a ...
Rett, a sophomore on the women’s rowing team, was the sole fatality in a serious crash Wednesday morning involving a van carrying members of the team in Vero Beach, Fla. She had recently set the world record for continuous rowing, clocking in at 62 hours and three seconds, according to Dean of Students Michele Murray.
“Grace was a light to all who knew her. She was incredibly passionate and hardworking,” an emotional Murray told reporters outside the college’s athletic center on Wednesday afternoon.
Moments earlier, Murray gathered inside the athletic complex with several hundred students who had arrived on campus early ahead of the spring semester as they dealt with the “terrible shock” of losing a student in the tight knit campus community.
“The reaction has been exactly what you would think — utter shock and disbelief and an incredibly generous outpouring of love and support,” Murray said.
Rett, an Uxbridge native, was a varsity rower studying English and psychology, according to the college. She had just turned 20 on Tuesday and was a member of the Class of 2022, officials said.
“It is with great sadness that we share with you that Grace Rett ’22, a resident of Healy, has passed away following this morning’s accident involving the women’s rowing team,” the college said in an email to students. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Grace’s family, friends and teammates at this time.”
The Rev. Philip L. Boroughs said in a statement, “Our community has suffered a tragic loss. I extend my deepest condolences to Grace’s family, members of the women’s rowing team and their coaches, and all who loved Grace.”
Holy Cross Athletics Director Marcus Blossom said, “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.”
Blossom added, “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.”
Boroughs, Blossom and representatives from the college’s Office of College Chaplains were traveling to Florida Wednesday afternoon to support the rowing team.
Vero Beach Police Chief David Currey confirmed during a press conference that one of the members of the team was killed in the crash that left several others with “serious injuries” after the van they were traveling in was struck by a red pickup truck shortly before 7:30 a.m. Wednesday in the seaside Florida city.
The van was one of two carrying 11 teammates and a coach, the school said. The rowing team was in Vero Beach for winter training in advance of competition season.
Rett had been sitting in the front passenger seat of the van, which sustained the most damage in the crash. Currey said he believed she had been wearing a seat belt.
Vero Beach police said 13 people were transported to area hospitals with injuries. One of the injured, Rett, was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Currey told the Herald shortly after 1 p.m. that some of those injured were transported to a trauma hospital with serious injuries and a few were in surgery. Others have been released and were now back with their team.
The crash remains under investigation by Vero Beach police. No charges had been filed as of early Wednesday afternoon.
Rett was a record-setting rower at her alma mater, Marianapolis Preparatory School in Connecticut, where as a freshman she set and held the 2,000- and 6,000-meter erg records, according to her biography on the Holy Cross women’s rowing team web page. She was the daughter of Christopher and Mary Jo Rett, and she had one sister.
Chaplains and counselors are being made available to Holy Cross students and staff. A vigil in honor of Rett will be held for next week when students return from winter break.
The 7 p.m. men’s basketball game against Army West Point has been postponed until 2 p.m. Thursday in light of Rett’s passing, the college said.
https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/01/15/holy-cross-womens-rowing-team-involved-in-serious-crash-in-florida/
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