The company that owns the truck involved in the deadly crash outside the Yale Bowl lashed out at the attorney for the student who was behind the wheel.
The rented U-Haul that struck and killed a Massachusetts tailgater at the Yale-Harvard football game over the weekend was being driven by Yale undergraduate student Brendon Ross.
William Dow, who is representing Ross, said Saturday's collision was a "tragic accident that appears to be the result of a vehicle malfunction." He did not elaborate and said Ross would not be speaking publicly about what happened.
But Ross and his family wanted to express their condolences to the three people who were hit by the truck, Dow said, including Nancy Barry, 30, of Salem, Massachusetts, who was killed.
Barry suffered fatal injuries at the scene near the Yale Bowl.
"U-Haul takes the safety and maintenance of our equipment very seriously," said Pete Sciortino, President of the U-Haul Company of Connecticut. "Our maintenance systems and protocols are state-of-the-art and are designed with Safety and Compliance with the law as our main priorities."
Sciortino then blasted Dow's statement about the possibility the truck malfunctioned.
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"Since the time of the accident, the vehicle has been under the exclusive custody of the police and now resides within a protected Police impound - which is exactly where it should be. As Mr. Dow has not had any access to the equipment, it stretches credulity that anyone would be able to intelligently make a comment such as the one Mr. Dow has made regarding a vehicle malfunction," Sciortino said. "Without any factual basis for such a claim, his premature speculation regarding a vehicle malfunction during a pending investigation is reckless, inappropriate and disrespectful to the victims and their families."
Sarah Short, a 31-year-old Yale student from New Haven, was hospitalized with leg injuries. Elizabeth Dernbach, 23, a Harvard employee originally from Naples, Florida, was treated for her injuries on Saturday and released.
Paula St. Pierre of Salem, Massachusetts, told the New Haven Register that her daughter went to New Haven to have fun with Short, a longtime friend. She said "everybody's shell-shocked."
St. Pierre said Barry was a wonderful daughter, granddaughter, sister and aunt.
Ross passed a field sobriety test after the collision on Saturday and police said he has been cooperative in their investigation, which remained open Sunday. No charges had been filed.
Police said Ross was driving the U-Haul carrying beer kegs through a popular tailgating area before the Yale-Harvard game when witnesses saw the vehicle turn a corner and speed up, striking Barry and injuring the other two women. The truck then crashed into other U-Haul vans on the lot.
The Yale Daily News reported on Sunday that the U-Haul was heading to a tailgate party for Sigma Phi Epsilon, the fraternity of which Ross is a member and where police listed his address.
"During the time that I have known Brenden, he has impressed me as one of the most compassionate, able, intelligent and responsible people I know," said Drew Marconi, President of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity at Yale. "I wish him all the support he needs during this difficult time, and our chapter will be doing everything we can to help him through."
Yale put its mental health counselors and chaplain's office on alert to work with students and faculty who seek help, and said its Dean's Office and Yale Athletics plan to undertake a full review of policies and regulations on tailgating.
Harvard also issued a statement expressing its sympathy for those involved.
New Haven police said their investigation will include a forensic review of the rented U-Haul truck, a review of witness statements and other work before they can determine whether anyone should face charges. The truck was impounded as part of the investigation.
At the annual Yale-Harvard game, tailgating is nearly as storied as the competition itself. Elaborate buffets dot the parking lots, and fans frequently fill U-Haul trucks with kegs, grills and hard alcohol.
Six years ago, Yale began shutting down all parties after halftime in an effort to curb binge drinking and keep students and alumni safe. Saturday's fans had gathered for the 128th game of the Ivy League rivalry, which Harvard won 45-7 for its fifth straight victory over Yale.
