In an unimaginable tragedy during what was meant to be a time of celebration and joy, three high school seniors from Concord-Carlisle High School in Massachusetts were killed in a car crash while on spring break in Florida.
The fatal accident, which occurred Monday night near Panama City, also left a fourth student critically injured, sending shockwaves through the Concord community and beyond.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash took place around 9:28 p.m. on Highway 98 when the SUV carrying the four students collided with a tractor-trailer attempting a U-turn.
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The impact was so severe that the SUV crossed the median and came to a stop in a wooded area across the highway.
Eighteen-year-old Jimmy McIntosh of Carlisle was behind the wheel and was pronounced dead at the scene, along with fellow senior Hannah Wasserman of Concord.
Image Credit: Instagram / @maiseyodonnell_
The other two passengers, Maisey O’Donnell of Concord and an unidentified student, were rushed to Bay Medical Center in critical condition. Tragically, O’Donnell succumbed to her injuries shortly after. The fourth student, who was not identified, remains in critical condition, NBC Boston.
The driver of the tractor-trailer, a 19-year-old, and a passenger in the truck were not injured, according to WCVB.
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Authorities confirmed that McIntosh was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, but it remains unclear whether the other passengers were restrained.
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision.
The loss of these young lives has devastated the Concord-Carlisle school community, where all four students were known and loved.
“We are very appreciative of the outpouring of love during what is absolutely heartbreaking,” said Laurie Hunter, superintendent of the Concord-Carlisle Regional School District, in a statement Tuesday.
Image Credit: Google Maps
“We also appreciate the wish to feel purposeful and not helpless. At this time, it is most appropriate that no action be taken to honor the students without the full consent of the families and appropriate support for so many young people facing unfathomable loss.”
Among the victims was Maisey O’Donnell, a standout athlete and two-time Massachusetts state diving champion.
O’Donnell had been widely recognized as one of the top divers in the nation and had planned to attend Williams College, one of the most prestigious liberal arts institutions in the country, in the fall.
Her coach, Joe Chirico, spoke with emotion as he recalled her exceptional achievements and the influence she had on others in the sport.
“It’s a tragedy,” Chirico told WCVB.
“The little kids looked up to her, the other divers looked up to her. It’s a tragedy, that somebody at the top of their game, going to the best academic school, one of the best divers in the nation, was cut so short.”
O’Donnell’s diving accolades in 2023 alone were a testament to her extraordinary talent.
She was named MVP, 1st Team All-State, 1st Team All-Area, 1st Team All-Region, 1st Team All-County, and 1st Team All-Conference while competing for Concord-Carlisle High School.
Beyond her impressive list of titles, she was known for her warmth, determination, and the inspiration she brought to her teammates and younger athletes.
Image Credit: WBZ News Boston
Jimmy McIntosh and Hannah Wasserman, while perhaps not as publicly decorated, were described by peers and educators as vibrant and kind-hearted individuals who contributed deeply to the school’s spirit and culture.
The sudden loss of all three students has left their classmates grappling with grief during what should have been a joyful chapter in their final year of high school.
Concord-Carlisle High School, located about 25 miles northwest of Boston, has initiated a support plan for students and faculty impacted by the tragedy.
Grief counselors and mental health professionals are being made available to assist those processing the loss.
As the community mourns, messages of love and condolences have poured in from across the state.
Vigils and memorials are expected to be organized in the coming weeks, although school officials urge that any efforts to honor the students be made with the families’ guidance and consent.
This tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of how fragile life can be and how quickly it can change in an instant.
The legacy of McIntosh, Wasserman, and O’Donnell will undoubtedly endure in the memories of those they touched — not only as students and athletes, but as cherished friends, classmates, and loved ones taken far too soon.
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