Cause of Seton Hill lacrosse team bus crash still unknown
An autopsy report released on Monday gave no insight into what caused the driver of a tour bus carrying the Seton Hill University women's lacrosse team to veer off the Pennsylvania Turnpike on Saturday morning and hit a tree, killing the driver, the head coach and her unborn son.
Kristina Quigley, 30, of Greensburg died of multiple traumatic injuries, Cumberland County Coroner Charles Hall said. Her unborn son, Jackson, died of blood loss, an autopsy showed.
Both died in Penn State Hershey Medical Center on Saturday.
The bus driver, Anthony Guaetta, 61, of Johnstown died at the scene of multiple traumatic blunt-force injuries, the coroner said. Toxicology tests for Guaetta are pending.
Fourteen students were injured.
Investigators are still gathering information and have not determined what caused Guaetta to drive the Mlaker Charter & Tours bus off the roadway, according to turnpike police.
Police said the bus was traveling east when it veered off, hit a guardrail and traveled 75 yards before smashing into a tree about 8:50 a.m. Saturday, a mile east of the Carlisle interchange.
The team was en route to a game against Millersville University, about 50 miles away.
Twelve of the injured players were treated in four hospitals and released. Two remained in Penn State Hershey Medical Center.
Amanda Michalski, a freshman from Coon Rapids, Minn., remained in serious condition, a hospital spokesman said. The condition of the other student could not be learned.
A fund set up for Quigley's 2 1⁄2-year-old son, Gavin, and her husband, Glenn, had nearly $20,000 in donations from 446 people by evening.
Liz Goff, a childhood friend of Quigley's, set up the fund through gofundme.com, a fundraising website.
“Kristie was there for my family when my son passed and I will be there for hers,” Goff wrote on the fund's page. “Kristie was an amazing woman whose heart was the biggest I've ever known. ... Please donate whatever you can to ease the financial burden of this family.”
Players and some parents contacted did not return messages, but several expressed thanks on a “Play 4 Seton Hill” Facebook page dedicated to showing how lacrosse teams across the country are honoring the small Catholic liberal arts school in Greensburg and its late coach.
The page had more than 6,700 “likes.” Photos show dozens of teams from Connecticut to Michigan to North Carolina that looped maroon and gold ribbons through their shoelaces and ponytails, wrote Seton Hill's school initials on their cleats and wrists, and penned messages of support on white lacrosse balls that will be sent to Seton Hill players.
The team “has displayed tremendous strength during the last few days,” said Jaimie Steel, associate dean of students at Seton Hill. “They are a cohesive group, and (Quigley) would be proud of them.”
Steel read a brief statement describing Quigley's passion for service and helping others.
“I first met Kristina when we donated our hair for the ‘Locks of Love' program. Immediately I thought she had a special quality, one that drew you to her,” Steel said.
Kari Andren is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-850-2856 or kandren@tribweb.com.
