NEED TO KNOW
- University of New Haven hockey player Ryan O’Shea died in a wrong-way crash while going home after a hockey game on Friday, Oct. 16
- O’Shea, who was 21, died at the scene
- He was a senior captain for the university club hockey team and the President of the Kappa Sigma Upsilon Omicron Chapter in West Haven
The University of New Haven is mourning the loss of student-athlete Ryan O’Shea.
In a statement shared on Facebook on Sunday, Oct. 18, the university said O’Shea, 21, died on Friday, Oct. 16 after suffering injuries in a car accident. “The car he was driving was struck head-on by a wrong-way driver on Interstate 91 South in North Haven,” the statement said.
According to WFSB, police and EMS responded to the scene near Exit 9 on the highway around 11:43 p.m. after a multi-vehicle crash was reported. A pickup truck reportedly struck O’Shea’s car, pushing it into the left-center lane, where it was reportedly struck by another vehicle, the outlet said.
O’Shea died at the scene, according to WFSB, and the incident remains under investigation.
Credit: Courtesy of Lily Anderson
O’Shea, also the president of the Kappa Sigma Upsilon Omicron Chapter in West Haven, was on his way home from his hockey game, the fraternity said in a statement. “Ryan was not only a great leader, but he was a caring friend to anyone around him,” the statement continued.
“He always knew how to light up a room and make people laugh, no matter the time. Ryan’s leadership and the memories he has made will never be forgotten.”
Credit: Courtesy of Lily Anderson
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O’Shea, an assistant captain for the University’s men’s ice hockey club team, was majoring in criminal justice with a concentration in police science, the school said.
His academic advisor, Lorenzo Boyd, Ph.D., said in a statement, “Ryan was an avid sports fan, and he was always ready to have a sports-related conversation. Ryan wanted to go into public service in order to help others. He was engaging in the classroom and will be missed greatly.”
The university’s hockey club’s general manager Devin Bertrand remembered O’Shea for his “infectious personality” and said, “Ryan embodied everything that is good about being a Charger.”
One friend remembered O’Shea in the comments, writing, “Never saw him without a smile, rest easy Ryan ❤️❤️,” while another said, “Ryan really was something special. One of one and no one can compare to him. Words can’t even describe how great he really was. Until next time brother. I miss you.”
Read the original article on People