BOSTON — A woman was killed Friday morning after a manhole cover became airborne and struck her vehicles' windshield.
Police determined that the metal manhole cover inside the O'Neil tunnel had become dislodged before it went airborne. After the impact, the car continued before crashing into a wall on the left shoulder.
The driver has been identified as Caitlin Clavette, an art teacher at a Milton elementary school died.
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Police say there was just one car involved. The crash happened around 7:50 a.m. on Rt. 93 southbound at East Berkeley Street.
[ PHOTOS: Woman's car struck by manhole cover ]
How the manhole cover became dislodged is still under investigation. Manhole covers typically weigh at least 200 pounds. MassDOT said there is not indication the manhole in question had been removed for any recent work.
MassDOT said this afternoon welders and Mass State Police troopers will examine all manhole covers, grates and cover for electrical panels on the highway infrastructure in Boston to make sure it is all properly sealed. If something is not secure, it will be welded immediately, said MassDOT.
"My understanding is this is an incredibly infrequent event, but even under these circumstances, we are sending people out to inspect...If we see anything that concerns us, we will shut it down," said Gov. Charlie Baker.
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To do the inspections, crews shut down lanes along 93 and that created another traffic mess Friday afternoon.
The results of Friday's inspection will dictate whether or not the inspection broadens beyond Boston.
Clavette was part of the Wheelworks Multisport Triathalon team for the past three years.
Team member Anne Traer told FOX25 she had just seen Clavette during a training session two weeks ago.
"As we learned about what happened to her this morning, we've been shocked and heartbroken," Traer said.
Neighbors told FOX25 they remember watching Clavette grow up, and that she had a passion for teaching.
"She always had a ready smile and encouraging to others, and she will be very, very, deeply missed," Traer said.
Friday evening, Clavette's family asked the media for privacy while they grieve.
Milton police issued the following statement about Clavette:
This has been a very sad day for our colleagues at the Glover Elementary School. The Milton Public Schools are our very close partners. Tonight, we extend our sympathy and prayers to all of the Glover teachers, students and parents on the tragic death of their beloved teacher, Caitlin Clavette, who was killed on Rte 93 this morning while driving to work.
Each day our officers face difficult and hard cases, but the sudden loss of such a bright life, a teacher who filled such a special role in the lives of her young students, tugs at the deepest human emotion in of all of us. Life is fragile and sacred. Please keep Caitlin and her family in your hearts this night. Parents, hug your your children and say "thank you" for the gift that this teacher brought to our community.
Milton Public Schools issued the following letter to families Friday:
Dear Milton Public School Families,
We are terribly sorry to have to report that a tragic traffic accident this morning claimed the life of Elementary Art teacher Caitlin Clavette. This is a terrible loss for our community. We are very sorry to have to communicate this with you through email, but we felt you needed to know as soon as possible. Ms. Clavette was a graduate of Winchester High School, received her Bachelor's degree in Art from the College of William and Mary and her Masters from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. This year she was teaching at the Glover, Collicot and Cunningham Schools, but has taught at all four of our elementary schools.
The Glover School will be open tomorrow from 11am to noon for any parent or guardian in the district who wish to meet and ask questions as to how to communicate Ms. Clavette's death to your children. We ask that you not bring your children to this meeting.
Please know that we as a school system feel the enormity of this tragedy. Caitlin's death is a tragic loss, not only for our faculty and staff, but also for the students and families whose lives she has touched over the past four years. We know that you will join us in sending your thoughts and prayers to Caitlin's family and friends.
Thank you,
Mary C. Gormley
Superintendent of Schools