A University of New Haven student from Stony Point is being remembered after he was killed in a wrong-way crash in Connecticut Friday night.
The university announced that Ryan O'Shea, 21, died after the vehicle he was driving was struck head-on by a wrong-way driver on Interstate 91 South in North Haven.
Who was Ryan O'Shea?
According to the university, O'Shea was a criminal justice major with a concentration in police science. A resident of Stony Point, New York, he had interned with the New York City Police Department and hoped to begin a career as a police officer after graduation. The university said he also hoped to one day work for the Drug Enforcement Administration.
In a statement published by the university, academic adviser Lorenzo Boyd remembered O'Shea
as someone committed to helping others.
"Ryan wanted to go into public service in order to help others. He was engaging in the classroom and will be missed greatly," Boyd said.
O'Shea was also a senior captain of the university's men's club hockey team. Devin Bertrand, general manager of the Chargers hockey club, said his influence extended beyond the ice.
"Ryan embodied everything that is good about being a Charger," Bertrand said. "His infectious personality lit up our locker room the moment he walked in, and his love for his teammates will never be forgotten."
Family, teammates remember him
According to a report by WTNH, O'Shea was also president of his fraternity and was remembered by loved ones as a positive influence on those around him.
"My little brother is gone from this world; it has been absolutely devastating, and we are still in shock," sister Kiera O'Shea told WTNH.
Members of the Kappa Sigma Upsilon Omicron chapter also paid tribute to O'Shea in an Instagram post, describing him as both a leader and a friend.
"Ryan was not only a great leader, but he was a caring friend to anyone around him," the fraternity wrote.
University plans memorial
The university said grief counseling services are available for students and that plans for a memorial are being developed.
More information about O'Shea is available in the university's statement, "University community mourns Ryan O'Shea."
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rockland County student killed in Connecticut wrong-way crash
