Who was Vanessa Mark? Brandeis University student, 25, killed in Waltham bus crash that left 27 injured
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WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS: Vanessa Mark, an undergraduate student from Brandeis University, was identified as the person killed in the shuttle bus accident on Sunday, November 20. The horrific incident also injured 26 additional students.
Mark, 25, lost her life after the bus carrying the group back to school from a hockey game at Northeastern University hit a tree and turned over multiple times, according to the Waltham Police Department. "While Vanessa was currently on leave, she was living in Waltham and was an active and cherished member of the Brandeis community," University president Ron Liebowitz wrote in a letter. "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." Brandeis canceled classes on Monday and Tuesday in order to give students time to talk with their families prior to Thanksgiving.
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The university stated, "Given the tragedy that our community is experiencing, Brandeis has canceled classes scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. This will enable some students to return to family and friends sooner than the normal holiday schedule would have allowed. For students who will remain on campus, we will have additional opportunities to gather and receive support."
A school official stated, "Brandeis has notified students, faculty, and staff of the accident; we are providing counseling and support to students and will continue to do so over the coming days," as reported by ABC. The university announced that additional assistance will be made available to students who choose to stay on campus during the week.
The cause of the bus crash in Waltham and the seriousness of the injuries sustained have not been disclosed by officials. The bus that was part of the accident belonged to Joseph's Transportation, a Medford, Massachusetts-based company, the university revealed. This transportation company has a fleet of 30 automobiles, according to federal data.
A statement from the university claimed that 17 of the injured students were discharged from the hospital while the remaining patients were still receiving care. Nearly seven hours after the collision, at 6 am, the bus was hauled away from the scene. There is currently an investigation into the accident's cause that took place around 10.45 am and there are no active charges.