Maisey O’Donnell, a standout high school athlete and two-time state diving champion from Massachusetts, was among three seniors tragically killed in a devastating car crash during spring break in Florida.
The fatal accident occurred Monday night on Highway 98 near Panama City. According to investigators, an SUV carrying four Concord-Carlisle High School students collided with a tractor-trailer that was attempting a U-turn in the highway median. The impact launched the SUV across the road and into a wooded area, where it eventually came to a stop.
Jimmy McIntosh, who was driving the SUV, and fellow student Hannah Wasserman were pronounced dead at the scene. O’Donnell, 18, was rushed to Bay Medical Center in critical condition but later died from her injuries. A fourth student remains hospitalized in critical condition. The driver of the truck was not injured.
O’Donnell’s death sent shockwaves through her school and the wider diving community. A decorated athlete, she had earned MVP honors, 1st Team All-State recognition, and had committed to attend Williams College this fall. She was widely regarded as one of the most talented divers in the country.
Joe Chirico, her coach at Boston Area Diving, shared his heartbreak.
“It’s a tragedy,” Chirico said. “The little kids looked up to her. The other divers looked up to her. She was at the top of her game, heading to one of the best academic schools, and now she’s gone.”
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
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