A standout soccer player tragically died in a boat crash after she and her friends allegedly took the vessel without permission. Elizabeth Dankert, 24, a former star soccer player at Union College in New York, was involved in the fatal incident late Wednesday night near Logan International Airport in Boston.
Details of the Incident
Authorities confirmed that Dankert suffered severe injuries in the crash and later passed away at Massachusetts General Hospital. Three other individuals on board sustained less serious injuries. The athlete had reportedly taken the boat without authorization from Boston's Seaport District after the local boating club had closed for the evening.
Officials stated that the vessel was being operated by Lawrence Shieh, 40, with Dankert and two other women, both aged 23, on board. The boat collided with the Runway 4R pier, launching all four occupants onto a rocky shoreline, according to Boston Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
Investigation Underway
The fatal crash reportedly occurred during difficult conditions on the water, and authorities have launched an ongoing investigation into the tragedy. The Freedom Boat Club issued a statement expressing full cooperation with the investigation and noting that the boat had been allegedly stolen by the group. “The vessel involved was taken without authorization and operated outside the knowledge and control of the Club, well after the Club had closed for the day,” the club said.
Boston EMS described the challenging circumstances: “In difficult conditions, including darkness and slippery shoreline rocks, EMTs George May and Andrea Albano located the scene and began patient care. Working in close coordination with Massport Fire, crews carefully extricated four patients from the rocks.”
Victim Remembered
Dankert was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries on Thursday morning. Union College in New York remembered her as a star player on its soccer team before her graduation in 2024. A university spokesperson said, “Lizzie was an exceptional student-athlete who had a tremendous impact during her four years at Union College. Her passing is a profound loss for our campus community. We offer our condolences to Lizzie’s family, classmates, teammates and all those who were lucky to know this terrific young woman.”
According to dispatch recordings cited by the Boston Globe, a caller initially reported that a separate boat had crashed into them, stating their “friend is bleeding out, not responding” while the boat was “on top of them.” However, emergency services found no evidence of a second boat and concluded that it appeared to be a single-vessel incident.
