A rising young star female lacrosse player in Massachusetts died Friday following a tragic boating accident off the coast of Cape Cod, NBC News reported.
The victim, identified as Sadie Mauro, 17, of the Dover-Sherborn community, was reportedly thrown from a boat she was in when it crashed into a jetty that extends out into the Sesuit Harbor near the community of Dennis.
An investigation into the deadly accident, during which other occupants of the vessel were said to have suffered undisclosed injuries, is reportedly ongoing.
A press release was issued Saturday by the Cape & Islands district attorney in regard to the Friday night incident in which the Dennis Police Department received and responded to a 911 call around 9 pm about a boating accident involving the jetty in the harbor the resulted in a 17-year-old victim being thrown overboard.
The victim was recovered from the water a few hours after the incident by local Fire-Rescue personnel and a regional dive team and was pronounced dead at the scene.
It was noted that the boat, which bore Alabama registration and was equipped with two 250 horsepower outboard motors, had been occupied by six individuals at the time of the crash. The other five victims were all transported to Cape Cod Hospital for treatment of their unspecified injuries.
The release noted that the Massachusetts State Police launched an investigation in conjunction with the district attorney's office and would be assisted by the Massachusetts Environmental Police, the MSP Crime Scene Services Section, and the Dennis PD.
The identity of the 17-year-old victim was initially not disclosed by local NBC affiliate WBTS reported that John Smith, the Dover-Sherborn High School principal, revealed in a Sunday email to the community that star lacrosse player Sadie Mauro was the teenager who tragically lost their life in the boating accident on Friday.
"Our school community is devastated and heartbroken. Sadie’s smile could light up a room, she had a heart of gold and the sweetest spirit," Smith wrote of the deceased student. "She had such a strong sense of self and had a love for adventure and anything outdoors. A hardworking student and great athlete, Sadie was genuine and effortlessly kind."
The principal went on to share that a plan was in place to provide counseling and other support services to any students who needed it to help deal with the unexpected loss, and advised everyone to include Mauro's grieving family in their thoughts and prayers.
School district Superintendent Beth McCoy shared a similar message with the community: "The Dover-Sherborn community is strong and is known for its strength and resiliency in the face of unimaginable tragedy."
NBC News further reported that Mauro was a star member of the Dover-Sherborn High School girl's lacrosse team that had just won the state championship in June.
It was also noted that Mauro had just recently committed to playing lacrosse at the collegiate level at Pennsylvania's Gettysburg College -- an NCAA Division III school that just won the Centennial Conference championship earlier this year but fell short of the national championship in the final game in late May.
"We are heartbroken to hear of the passing of Sadie Mauro, who was verbally committed to attend and play lacrosse at Gettysburg College in 2024," head coach Charlotte Cunningham said, according to local Boston outlet WFXT. "This has been an unimaginable loss, and our team and the Gettysburg community is keeping Sadie’s family and friends in our thoughts and prayers as they mourn the loss of a daughter, sister, teammate, and friend."
