Pittsburgh Native And Law Student Dies In Vermont Train Crash

Pittsburgh PA

17 November, 2021

4:14 PM

Description

ROYALTON, VT — A Vermont Law School student and Pittsburgh native died Tuesday when an Amtrak train struck his Jeep Cherokee as it was attempting to cross over railroad tracks. Royalton police identified the man as Thomas R. Fennell, 23. According to Royalton police, Fennell had turned onto a road, crossed the railroad tracks, backed into a driveway to turn around and was attempting to travel back over the tracks when his vehicle was struck by the train. Royalton Police Chief Loretta Stalnaker found him dead at the scene. According to his Vermont Law School webpage, Fennell received his international development studies degree from the University of California at Los Angeles. He was working on a securitization and energy justice project at the law school, from which he was supposed to graduate from in 2023. "The Vermont Law School community is deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of Thomas Fennell," Vermont Law School interim President Beth McCormack said in a statement to students, the Concord Monitor reported. "Thomas was a valued member of the VLS community, and our campus and academic programs were greatly enriched by his presence and many contributions, most recently by his leadership in the Environmental Law Society. He was a friend to many." Be the first to know what's happening in your community and region. With a free Patch subscription, you'll always be up to date on local and state news: https://patch.com/subscribe.