Holy Cross Crash Report, 911 Calls Released By Vero Beach Police

WORCESTER, MA — The Holy Cross rowing coach who was driving a van involved in a deadly crash in Vero Beach, Florida, failed to yield at a light, according to police in Florida. Multiple witnesses — including another coach — told police that the rowing coach did not have a green arrow to cross against oncoming traffic, according to police reports.

The crash happened Jan. 15 just before 7:30 a.m. when rowing head coach Patrick Diggins, 55, of Holden, made a left turn across a busy Indian River Boulevard. The driver of a pickup truck smashed into the passenger side of the vehicle, killing Holy Cross rower Grace Rett, 20. Thirteen others were injured, including several rowers, Diggins and the driver of the pickup truck that hit the van.

According to police reports, Diggins asked police at the scene, "Did I have a green arrow?" immediately after the crash. The police report also says that the driver of the pickup truck told police he saw the van driver "looking down and not looking at the roadway" while turning across oncoming traffic along Indian River Boulevard.

The Holy Cross team's assistant coach, Stephanie Ricker, who was traveling in a second van behind Diggins, told police she saw a green light, but was unsure if it was a green arrow.

Police also released a number of 911 calls made immediately after the crash.

Here's the police report: