Sports
Salem State Mourns Hockey Player Killed In Car Crash
Billy Hickey, a senior men's hockey player from Pembroke, was killed along with a longtime friend in a single-car crash Saturday morning.
SALEM, MA — The Salem State University athletic community is mourning the death of a men's hockey player killed in a car crash early Saturday morning.
The school said it was "with profound sadness" that it shared with athletes and staff that Billy Hickey died this weekend. Hickey was killed, along with a longtime friend, in a single-car crash in Pembroke.
"Billy was a well-respected and popular member of our Viking family," Salem State Athletic Director Nicolle Wood said in a statement, "who excelled as a competitor on the ice, in the classroom and as a leader in our community."
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Hickey was to graduate this spring with a Bachelor of Science degree in cartography and geographic information systems.
"Billy was such a tremendous human being. He strived to be the best in everything he did," Salem State men's hockey coach Bill O'Neill said. "You would want Billy on your team as he was the player that made everyone else better. You would want Billy to be part of your family, as you could trust him and his loyalty was unwavering.
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"We all loved him and are devastated by the loss."
Plymouth County District Attorney investigators said Hickey was traveling with Joe Birolini on Elm Street in Pembroke shortly before 1 a.m. when the Lexus SUV Hickey was driving crossed the center line, left the roadway, struck a tree, rolled over and struck a utility pole before coming to a rest.
Both were pronounced dead at South Shore Hospital about 3:15 a.m.
GoFundMe pages are set up to support both men's families.
"As our community processes this immense loss we send our deepest condolences to Billy's family, teammates, coaches, and friends," Wood said.
The school set up counseling services for those who need them. They can be reached at 978-542-6413.
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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)
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