Charette picutred with her boyfriend Connor Garland. (Facebook)
Cassidy Charette was killed after an accident in Maine during a harvest hayride. The tragedy happened on Saturday, October 11, as Charette was taking the ride with her boyfriend, Connor Garland, who was also injured. It happened on an attraction called “The Gauntlet” in Mechanic Falls, Maine. The jeep pulling a trailer of passengers hit a tree after losing control and overturned. In total 22 people were injured.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. She Was an Honor Student
Charette was just 17 years old. She attended Messalonskee High School where she was a four-time honor student, according to the Kennebec Journal.
2. Charette Was a Soccer Star
Tonight I’ll be live from Messalonskee HS. Hear from a friend of Cassidy Charette and Connor Garland. http://t.co/0iIAy6WoZf
She was a soccer star on Messalonskee’s varsity team. Charette was a resident of Oakland, Maine. Central Maine reports that the day after the accident, several of Charette’s team mates took to their soccer field to hold a vigil for their former team mate.
3. Tributes to Charette Have Been Pouring in on Twitter
As news of Charette’s passing spread throughout Maine, there was an outpouring of emotion on Twitter.
This image is a symbol of strength. Both teams wearing blue ribbons in hair for Cassidy Charette #messalonskeestrong http://t.co/7NJ47vKxIg
4. Her Boyfriend Is in ‘Fair Condition’ in Hospital
Connor Garland, 16, is a pitcher with Messalonkee’s baseball team. He also plays for the Central Maine Owls. In 2013, at under-15 level his team won the Maine State Championships. On his Facebook page, Garland says that he works for Major League Baseball. He was “seriously injured” in the accident but he is now said to be in “fair condition” at Boston Children’s Hospital, reports the Kennebec Journal.
5. The Driver of the Hayride Was Tested for Alcohol
The driver of the jeep that crashed, causing the accident, David Brown, was seriously injured and underwent surgery on the night of the accident. Brown was tested for alcohol, reports the Press Herald, the results of that test haven’t been made public. Brown had been working at Harvest Hills Farms for three years.
