A college hockey player preparing for a career in law enforcement was killed in a wrong-way crash involving a Mexican illegal immigrant who had previously been removed from the United States. Ryan O’Shea, 21, died October 16th while returning to campus after a hockey game. Federal immigration officials identified the other driver as Guillermo Carmona-Lopez, 31. They described O’Shea’s death as “tragic and preventable.”
O’Shea was a senior at the University of New Haven and a leader on its men’s club ice hockey team. His car was struck head-on on Interstate 91 South in North Haven, Connecticut, when a pickup traveled into oncoming traffic. The collision occurred late Friday night as O’Shea was making his way back from the team’s game.
Carmona-Lopez was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital with life-threatening injuries, while three other people involved suffered minor injuries. O’Shea was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash left his family mourning a young man from Stony Point, New York, whose plans included joining the New York City Police Department after completing his criminal justice degree.
The Daily Caller reported that Carmona-Lopez remained uncharged as of its October 30th article, with the investigation ongoing. In its statement, ICE outlined his immigration history, beginning with a Border Patrol arrest following an illegal entry in May 2013. He received an expedited removal and was deported, then illegally entered again and was arrested a second time. The agency said he received a final removal order and subsequently returned at an unknown time and place.
O’Shea had already begun preparing for police work through an NYPD internship the previous summer, the university said. His degree concentration was police science, and he also hoped eventually to work for the Drug Enforcement Administration. Academic adviser Lorenzo Boyd remembered his participation in class and enthusiasm for conversations about sports. “Ryan wanted to go into public service in order to help others,” Boyd said.
His sister Kiera described the family’s shock in an interview with WTNH News 8, which reported that O’Shea also served as president of his fraternity. His loved ones said they wanted answers about the collision and planned a scholarship honoring students who demonstrated leadership. “My little brother is gone from this world; it has been absolutely devastating, and we are still in shock,” Kiera said.
Watch WTNH’s report featuring O’Shea’s loved ones here:
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Teammates recalled that O’Shea continued showing up to support them even when he was injured, WTNH reported in a separate interview. General manager Devin Bertrand described his humor and remembered how eagerly O’Shea anticipated the letter Bertrand writes to graduating seniors. Teammate Logan Toussaint said, “He always had a smile on his face no matter what the situation was.”
On October 30th, the team retired O’Shea’s No. 5 jersey before its game at Northford Ice Pavilion, according to WTNH’s coverage of the ceremony. His family joined university representatives on the ice to receive his jersey, and his mother also received a No. 5 jersey from the visiting team. When play began, New Haven held the puck for five seconds in his honor. His number will never again be worn by a Chargers club hockey player.
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video.