Latest news with #HannahWasserman
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Teenage boy's awful decision that led to death of him and two young female friends during Florida vacation
A teenage boy was barreling down a Florida highway at 110 mph when he crashed and killed himself along with two other passengers. Massachusetts high schooler James McIntosh, 18, was identified as the driver of the Hyundai SUV that crashed on US 98 carrying several of his friends while they were on vacation in April. Investigators determined he was speeding at 110 mph on the dark and unlit highway - where the speed limit is 65 mph - when he crashed into a tractor-trailer attempting to make a U-turn, according to a crash report obtained by The Boston Globe. McIntosh and his 17-year-old classmate, Hannah Wasserman, were pronounced dead at the scene. Their friend and high school diving champion Maisey O'Donnell, 18, died three days later at Massachusetts General Hospital. A fourth passenger, who has not been identified, was severely injured. '[McIntosh was] traveling at an excessive speed and failed to slow to traffic turning in front of him,' the report said. The tractor-trailer driver was identified as Kadyn Dewayne Ainsworth, 19. Police said he failed to yield the right of way as he attempted the U-turn. After the collision, McIntosh's SUV then moved across the median and both eastbound lanes, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, before coming to a stop in the woods. Ainsworth and his passenger were not injured. Investigators noted they do not believe Ainsworth was under the influence at the time of the crash and they did not test McIntosh for drugs or alcohol. Wasserman was not wearing a seat belt, but all the other teens were, according to the report. Police continue investigating the crash and have not decided on charges. 'We understand the public's desire for a fast resolution to these criminal investigations; however, it is more important that we conduct the best investigation possible for the people that are involved,' said Lieutenant Jim Beauford, chief of public affairs for Florida Highway Patrol. O'Donnell was a two-time state diving champion in Massachusetts and was previously committed to continuing her athletic career at Williams College. 'I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to the admissions process at Williams College!' she wrote in September, along with a picture of her in a Williams hoodie. 'Thank you so much to my family, friends, and coaches who helped me get to this point. Go Ephs!' Wasserman was set to attend Syracuse University and loved giving back to her community. She also worked as a dance teacher and lifeguard. 'She was a talented writer who enjoyed writing poetry. Hannah loved the beach, sunsets, and adventures with family and friends,' her obituary said. McIntosh was described as a 'caring and compassionate person,' and was going to attend the College of Charleston in the fall. 'Jimmy was magnetic from the day he was born, filling all the hearts he touched with love and joy,' his obituary said. 'Jimmy was incredibly independent, creative, intellectually curious, and enviably fashionable. He loved to make pottery, shop, travel, and especially spend time with his family and friends.'
USA Today
06-05-2025
- USA Today
GoFundMe removes fake campaign after fraudulent fundraiser exploits grieving community
GoFundMe removes fake campaign after fraudulent fundraiser exploits grieving community Show Caption Hide Caption Americans reported losing $470M to text scams In 2024, Americans reported losing $470 million to scams that started with text messages, according to new data from the Federal Trade Commission. Scripps News A fraudulent GoFundMe account claiming to raise money for one of three fatal car crash victims from Concord-Carlisle High School has been shut down. More than $5,700 was raised before GoFundMe officials removed the fraudulent page and refunded all donors. Concord Police are working with GoFundMe to track down whoever is responsible. Those who donated to a fraudulent GoFundMe account that was created to make them believe they were helping the family of one of three Concord-Carlisle High School students killed in a crash in Florida have been refunded, a company spokesperson told the MetroWest Daily News. The fundraiser in the name of Hannah Wasserman, 18, had raised more than $5,700 before it was taken down, a GoFundMe spokesperson said via email. 'Our hearts go out to the community after this tragedy,' the spokesperson wrote. 'At GoFundMe, being a safe and trusted place to give and receive help is our top priority and we are continuing to monitor the platform for any fundraisers related to this incident.' Wasserman, along with classmates Jimmy McIntosh and Maisey O'Donnell, all 18, died from injuries suffered in a crash on Monday, April 21, on Highway 98 in the Florida Panhandle. A fourth student suffered critical injuries. In case you missed it: Scammers are posing as toll collection services. How to avoid becoming a victim of fraud. A day later, a GoFundMe account with the title 'Help cover funeral costs for Hannah Wasserman,' was created, and it sought $10,000. The GoFundMe used the name of another Concord-Carlisle student whose mother said did not create the fundraiser. 'We became aware tonight that the following GoFundMe has been posted under Rex's name 'in support' of the Wasserman family after their tragedy,' Jayme Kennedy Riessen said in a Facebook post last month. 'Rex did not start this fundraiser, we do not know who did, and have reported it. Please do not donate as this is not a verified effort.' Riessen didn't respond to a request for comment sent via Facebook Messenger. Police call fake GoFundMe page 'disgusting' Concord Police Capt. Brian Goldman said police are investigating. 'It's kind of disgusting, really, to try to take advantage of people in their darkest hour,' he said. 'It was a fake account.' Goldman said it's not easy to spot a fake GoFundMe, particularly due to the prevalence of people starting them in the wake of fires, accidents or other tragedies. 'They're posted all of the time and people take it at face value that it's going to the people it is supposed to,' he said. Goldman said GoFundMe fundraisers, as with any fundraiser, should be looked at with scrutiny. He suggested that those interested in donating should try to contact the subjects of the fundraiser, or someone close to them, to confirm its authenticity. 'Those are tricky because a lot of times friends and family set things up,' said Goldman. 'Don't take it from one source. It's always good to trust and verify. Check with the original source.' The GoFundMe spokesperson said such incidents are 'very rare,' but when they do happen, a full refund is guaranteed through the company's 'GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.' In this instance, the spokesperson said once the company was notified that the fundraiser may be fake, the company reached out to the creator of the page. The money had not been dispersed and was held by payment processors during the review of the page. 'As our Trust & Safety team did not receive a response to our outreach, all donors have been refunded and the fundraiser removed,' the spokesperson explained. Investigators trying to track down the scammer Goldman said Concord Police investigators are working with GoFundMe to investigate the fake fundraiser. He said banking information and other identifying information typically has to be shared with GoFundMe, so they will be seeking that information to see if they can track down those responsible. 'After we get the records, we kind of go on a hunting trail to track where the money was going to go,' he said. The fatal crash remains under investigation, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@ For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
Mass. teen killed in Florida crash 'was magnetic,' wanted to go to college in Charleston
A Carlisle teenager killed in a crash in Florida after Easter was remembered for his independence, creativity and for being a compassionate person, his family wrote in his obituary. At around 9:28 p.m. on April 21, James McIntosh, Hannah Wasserman, Maisey O'Donnell and a third teenage girl were in an SUV driving west on Route 98 in Walton County, near Panama City Beach, Florida, when they were struck by a tractor-trailer trying to make a U-turn in a paved median, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report obtained by MassLive. The SUV crossed the median and the highway's eastbound side before stopping along the woodline, police said. Wasserman and McIntosh died, while O'Donnell later died at the hospital, Concord-Carlisle Regional School District Superintendent Dr. Laurie Hunter said in a statement obtained by WCVB-TV. The third teenage girl was last reported in critical condition. McIntosh, also known as Jimmy, was born on March 30, 2007, in Boston, his family wrote. Until he was 4 years old, he lived in Milford before his parents moved to his mother's childhood home in Carlisle. From kindergarten through high school, McIntosh made friends with his fellow students, with teachers and with other parents, "never afraid to interact with anyone and had a confidence and spirit that few children have at that age," his family wrote. He 'was magnetic, filling all the hearts he touched with love and joy... incredibly independent, creative, intellectually curious and enviably fashionable," his family continued. 'He loved to make pottery, shop, travel, and especially spend time with his family and friends... He loved a good adventure.' McIntosh fell in love with Charleston, South Carolina, where he hoped to go to college in the fall, his obituary read. McIntosh is survived by his parents Liz and Scott McIntosh; his maternal grandparents; his paternal grandfather; multiple aunts, uncles, cousins, great aunts and uncles and extended family members. McIntosh was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother Nancy McIntosh (Kelly). His family invited friends and relatives to gather for visitation at the Dee Funeral Home at 27 Bedford St. on Sunday, May 4, from 2-6 p.m. A memorial service will be held at the First Religious Society, 27 School St. in Carlisle at 4 p.m. on May 5. A reception will then immediately follow and will be streamed online. McIntosh will be privately interred at Green Cemetery in Carlisle. Hannah Wasserman, Mass. teen killed in Florida crash, loved history and dance New Bedford man killed in I-195 crash loved to play music, 'lit up every room' Revere man killed in I-93 Medford crash came to US with wife from El Salvador
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Yahoo
Police investigating ‘fraudulent' GoFundMe established for Concord-Carlisle student killed in crash
Police say they are aware of a fraudulent GoFundMe page created to make people believe they were helping the family of one of the three Concord-Carlisle High School students killed in a crash in Florida earlier this month. Concord Police Chief Thomas Mulcahy told Boston 25 News that officers are aware of and investigating the fake page titled 'Help Cover Funeral Costs for Hannah Wasserman.' The fake page was set up under the name of Rex Riessen. Jayme Kennedy Riessen shared that her son had no part in establishing the page and asked people not to donate to the fundraiser. 'Rex did not start this fundraiser, we do not know who did, and have reported it. Please do not donate as this is not a verified effort. Please share!!!' Riessen wrote on April 22. Jimmy McIntosh, Hannah Wasserman and Maisey O'Donnell, three seniors at the high school, passed away due to the crash. A fourth student suffered critical injuries. Boston 25 News has reached out to GoFundMe to verify if refunds have been processed for donors to the fake page. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
CBS News
27-04-2025
- CBS News
3 Massachusetts high school students killed in Florida crash being remembered at Sunday gathering
The Concord-Carlisle High School community will gather Sunday night in memory of three members of the senior class that were killed in a car crash in Florida while on a trip during their spring break. Jimmy McIntosh, Hannah Wasserman and Maisey O'Donnell all died during the crash on the Florida panhandle. A fourth student was seriously hurt. All four of the students were 18 years old at the time of the crash. The gathering Sunday night will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the high school's Memorial Field. "In light of the heartbreaking loss of three beloved members of our senior class, and one still critically injured, we invite the entire community to come together for an evening of remembrance, support, connection, and hope," Superintendent Dr. Laurie Hunter posted on social media. Hannah Wasserman, Maisey O'Donnell and Jimmy McIntosh Photo credits: Concord-Carlisle High School and Boston Area Diving According to Florida Highway Patrol, the four students from Massachusetts were in an SUV being driven by McIntosh at the time of the crash. The SUV crashed into a tractor-trailer that was making a U-turn in the median. Concord-Carlisle High School students return to school Monday following their April break. Grief counselors were at the school Wednesday, and will be back to help students again on Monday. According to school officials, a GoFundMe page that was created after the students' death purporting to be raising money for funeral services was reported as fraudulent. O'Donnell was a two-time state diving champion. She helped Concord-Carlisle High School win its third straight MIAA title earlier this year and planned to dive for Williams College in the fall.
