Officials are naming the Brandeis University student who was killed in a shuttle bus crash that injured 27 other people, the vast majority of whom are fellow Brandeis students.In a statement shared on the school’s website, Brandeis University President Ron Liebowitz said the Waltham Police Department identified the victim who died as 25-year-old undergraduate student Vanessa Mark.”While Vanessa was currently on leave, she was living in Waltham and was an active and cherished member of the Brandeis community,” Liebowitz said in his statement. “We have been in touch with Vanessa’s family and will continue to stay in contact with them in the coming days, and we will keep you updated about ways we will honor Vanessa’s memory.”A statement from the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office said the bus was returning 27 Brandeis students to campus from a hockey game at Northeastern University on Saturday when the vehicle crashed into a tree on the 800 block of South Street shortly after 10:30 p.m. Authorities said Mark was pronounced dead at the scene and that the remaining 26 students, along with the bus driver, were transported to area hospitals with injuries of varying degrees. Aside from Mark, the DA’s Office and Waltham police are not identifying any of the individuals involved.A Brandeis University spokesperson told NewsCenter 5 that three people involved in the crash remain hospitalized as of Sunday evening.The university confirmed to 5 Investigates that the bus was contracted by Brandeis and is owned by Joseph’s Transportation, of Medford. According to records from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Joseph’s Transportation has a “satisfactory” safety rating — the highest rating given.The federal records also state Joseph’s Transportation was involved in just one crash with an injury over the last two years. The FMCSA notes that its listed crashes only signify the motor carrier’s involvement in reportable crashes, without any determination as to responsibility.Joseph’s Transportation has yet to respond to several phone calls and emails from NewsCenter 5 as of Sunday evening.The heavily-damaged Joseph’s Transportation bus was towed away from the crash scene early Sunday morning.Ray Shung, a senior student at Brandeis, said friends of his were on the bus involved in the crash and they told him that the driver was speeding.”The bus was really fast, was way above the speed limit before this accident happened,” Shung said.The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Waltham Police, the Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts State Police Crash Reconstruction Section. No charges have been filed in connection with the crash at this time.”Adding to the difficulty of absorbing such painful news is the fact that we all have many unanswered questions at this time,” Liebowitz stated. “We have been working with Waltham police as the accident is investigated and will continue to be in close contact with the department. Nothing is more important than the safety of our students, and we are committed to learning all that we can about how this happened. University leaders will continue to share information as we learn more.”Brandeis officials said the university will be providing counseling services to students 24/7 at 781-736-3730. The university’s counseling center was open from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday with grief counselors available to students.At 11 a.m. Sunday, Liebowitz and a handful of other individuals held a brief community engagement meeting at the campus center. The university has canceled classes on Monday and Tuesday, effectively extending the Thanksgiving holiday break that was scheduled to start Wednesday and last through Friday.”This will enable some students to return to family and friends sooner than the normal holiday schedule would have allowed,” Liebowitz stated.Brandeis students who will remain on campus during the Thanksgiving holiday will have additional opportunities to gather and receive support from the university.
WALTHAM, Mass. —
Officials are naming the Brandeis University student who was killed in a shuttle bus crash that injured 27 other people, the vast majority of whom are fellow Brandeis students.
In a statement shared on the school’s website, Brandeis University President Ron Liebowitz said the Waltham Police Department identified the victim who died as 25-year-old undergraduate student Vanessa Mark.
“While Vanessa was currently on leave, she was living in Waltham and was an active and cherished member of the Brandeis community,” Liebowitz said in his statement. “We have been in touch with Vanessa’s family and will continue to stay in contact with them in the coming days, and we will keep you updated about ways we will honor Vanessa’s memory.”
A statement from the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office said the bus was returning 27 Brandeis students to campus from a hockey game at Northeastern University on Saturday when the vehicle crashed into a tree on the 800 block of South Street shortly after 10:30 p.m.
Authorities said Mark was pronounced dead at the scene and that the remaining 26 students, along with the bus driver, were transported to area hospitals with injuries of varying degrees. Aside from Mark, the DA’s Office and Waltham police are not identifying any of the individuals involved.
A Brandeis University spokesperson told NewsCenter 5 that three people involved in the crash remain hospitalized as of Sunday evening.
The university confirmed to 5 Investigates that the bus was contracted by Brandeis and is owned by Joseph’s Transportation, of Medford.
According to records from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Joseph’s Transportation has a “satisfactory” safety rating — the highest rating given.
The federal records also state Joseph’s Transportation was involved in just one crash with an injury over the last two years. The FMCSA notes that its listed crashes only signify the motor carrier’s involvement in reportable crashes, without any determination as to responsibility.
Joseph’s Transportation has yet to respond to several phone calls and emails from NewsCenter 5 as of Sunday evening.
The heavily-damaged Joseph’s Transportation bus was towed away from the crash scene early Sunday morning.
Ray Shung, a senior student at Brandeis, said friends of his were on the bus involved in the crash and they told him that the driver was speeding.
“The bus was really fast, was way above the speed limit before this accident happened,” Shung said.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Waltham Police, the Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts State Police Crash Reconstruction Section. No charges have been filed in connection with the crash at this time.
“Adding to the difficulty of absorbing such painful news is the fact that we all have many unanswered questions at this time,” Liebowitz stated. “We have been working with Waltham police as the accident is investigated and will continue to be in close contact with the department. Nothing is more important than the safety of our students, and we are committed to learning all that we can about how this happened. University leaders will continue to share information as we learn more.”
Brandeis officials said the university will be providing counseling services to students 24/7 at 781-736-3730. The university’s counseling center was open from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday with grief counselors available to students.
At 11 a.m. Sunday, Liebowitz and a handful of other individuals held a brief community engagement meeting at the campus center.
Brandeis University
The university has canceled classes on Monday and Tuesday, effectively extending the Thanksgiving holiday break that was scheduled to start Wednesday and last through Friday.
“This will enable some students to return to family and friends sooner than the normal holiday schedule would have allowed,” Liebowitz stated.
Brandeis students who will remain on campus during the Thanksgiving holiday will have additional opportunities to gather and receive support from the university.
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