Sparkill Volunteer Dies in Honduras Bus Crash

Volunteers finishing up a project in Honduras died in a bus crash there on Wednesday, according to the Daily News.

Among them was Abigail Flanagan, 45, of Sparkill.

She was a nurse practitioner at the Columbia University Medical Center as well as a student, according a statement from Barnard’s president, Debora Spar:

Dear Members of the Barnard Community,

It is with deep sadness that we write to share tragic news. We are heartbroken to report that Daniella Moffson ‘17, along with Olivia Erhardt CC’18 and Abigail Flanagan, a nurse practitioner at the Columbia University Medical Center and a General Studies student, was killed in a bus accident today in Honduras. They were traveling with 25 other Barnard and Columbia students as part of a trip sponsored by Global Brigades, a non-profit student-led organization of volunteers dedicated to improving under-resourced communities around the world.

Four other Barnard students were on the trip, and we are relieved to report that they are safe and expected home soon. We know that a number of the other students were injured, and our colleagues at Columbia are in the process of determining the full extent of the injuries sustained by their students. Columbia medical and support personnel are traveling to Honduras overnight to provide additional on-site assistance.

We know that this news is extraordinarily upsetting. During this difficult time, if you need support or counseling, please know that staff members in theFurman Counseling Center (212-854-2092), Dean of Studies office (212-854-2024) and Human Resources (212-854-2551) stand ready to assist students, faculty, and staff.

We will provide further information to the community as it becomes available. For now, we join with all members of our community in mourning Daniella, Olivia, and Abigail, and send our deepest condolences to their families, friends, and colleagues.

Respectfully,

President Debora Spar

The accident is under investigation. Apparently the bus left the road and fell into a ravine.

Read the entire report on nydailynews.com.

PHOTO: Abigail Flanagan/LinkedIn