Details of the Crash

The incident took place around 9:30 p.m. on U.S. Highway 98, approximately 10 miles west of Panama City Beach in the Florida Panhandle. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, an SUV carrying four 18-year-old students—one male and three females—collided with a tractor-trailer performing a U-turn in a paved median. The force of the collision caused the SUV to cross the median and both eastbound lanes, coming to rest in a wooded area along the highway’s south side.

Jimmy McIntosh, who was driving the SUV, and Hannah Wasserman were pronounced dead at the scene. Maisey O’Donnell was rushed to Bay Medical Center in Panama City, where she succumbed to her injuries on Tuesday afternoon, April 22, 2025. The fourth student, whose identity remains undisclosed, is in critical condition as of April 23, 2025. The tractor-trailer was driven by a 19-year-old from DeFuniak Springs, Florida, with a 23-year-old passenger from Panama City Beach. Neither occupant of the tractor-trailer was injured. The Florida Highway Patrol is still investigating, and no charges have been filed as of now.

The Victims

The three students who lost their lives were cherished members of the Concord-Carlisle High School community:

• Jimmy McIntosh: An 18-year-old senior from Carlisle, remembered for his contributions to the school community. He was driving the SUV and was wearing a seatbelt, though it’s unclear if the others were.

• Hannah Wasserman: An 18-year-old senior from Concord, known for her vibrant presence among peers.

• Maisey O’Donnell: An 18-year-old senior from Concord, Maisey was an exceptional athlete. She was a two-time MIAA North sectional and Division 1 diving champion, an All-American diver, and was named the Globe’s Athlete of the Year for girls’ diving. Her family shared that she was part of an organ donation program, expressing hope that her decision would bring meaning to others’ lives. Maisey had plans to attend Williams College in the fall and will be posthumously honored as The Boston Globe’s Athlete of the Year for diving.

The fourth student, also an 18-year-old senior from Concord-Carlisle High School, remains in critical condition. Out of respect for their privacy, their name has not been released.

Community Impact and Response

The loss of these young lives has deeply affected the Concord and Carlisle communities. Concord-Carlisle High School Superintendent Dr. Laurie Hunter addressed the tragedy in a statement to families, as reported by CBS Boston:

"We offer our deep condolences to the families and friends of Hannah and Jimmy during this unimaginable time. Their loss will be deeply felt by our school community as well as by so many families in Carlisle and Concord. We are also keeping the other two students in our thoughts and wish them strength and a swift recovery."

Following Maisey O’Donnell’s passing, Hunter added, “Maisey is in the organ donation program as her family hopes that it will give meaning to these meaningless tragedies.” In a later statement, she noted, “We are very appreciative of the outpouring of love during what is absolutely heartbreaking. We also appreciate the wish to feel purposeful and not helpless. At this time, it is most appropriate that no action be taken to honor the students without the full consent of the families and appropriate support for so many young people facing unfathomable loss.”

To support students and staff, the school has arranged grief counseling sessions, available on Wednesday, April 23, from 10 a.m. to noon, and on Monday, April 28, when students return from spring break. The school’s academic calendar indicates that students were on break during the week of the incident, which may have amplified the shock as peers learned of the news.

Dr. Ellen Braaten, a psychologist from Harvard Medical School, provided insight into the emotional toll such events take on young people, stating, “It's not only that they're dealing with grief, but they're also dealing with the fact that life throws you a lot of really awful curveballs and it's really tough to kind of figure that out.” She emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for teens to express their grief, noting, “Teens are actually pretty good at coming together in difficult times.”

Maisey O’Donnell’s diving coach, Josh, head coach of Boston Area Diving, spoke to WCVB about her impact: “The little kids looked up to her. The other divers looked up to her.” Her achievements and leadership left a lasting mark on the diving community, and her loss is felt beyond her school.

Additional Context

The crash occurred in a busy area of the Florida Panhandle, a popular destination for spring break travelers. The involvement of a tractor-trailer making a U-turn suggests that road conditions or visibility may have played a role, though the Florida Highway Patrol has not yet released a final report on the cause of the accident. The fact that the tractor-trailer’s occupants were unharmed underscores the severity of the impact on the students’ SUV.

The Concord-Carlisle High School community is navigating this tragedy during what should have been a celebratory time for these seniors, who were preparing to graduate and begin their next chapters. The school, located about 25 miles northwest of Boston, is known for its tight-knit community, and the loss of these students has prompted an outpouring of support.

Moving Forward

As the Concord-Carlisle community grieves, the focus remains on supporting the families of Maisey O’Donnell, Jimmy McIntosh, and Hannah Wasserman, as well as the surviving student and their loved ones. The school’s efforts to provide grief counseling and the community’s commitment to respecting the families’ wishes reflect a collective effort to heal. The legacy of these students, particularly Maisey’s contributions to diving and her organ donation, will continue to inspire those who knew them.

Thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends, and the entire Concord-Carlisle High School community as they navigate this profound tragedy.