Boston Marathon Bombing Survivor Victoria McGrath Dies In Car Crash In Dubai

One of the Boston Marathon bombing victims, Victoria McGrath, who survived that fateful day in April 2013, tragically lost her life in a car crash in Dubai.

The 23-year-old and her roommate, Priscilla Perez Torres, who were both on track to graduate from Northeastern University in a few months, were with two others, all of whom died in the crash during a Spring break trip to Dubai. The tragic crash reportedly involved the “usual suspects” of ingredients – a fast car (a Ferrari), excessive speeds, and alcohol, the New York Daily News reported.

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Mourning

Remembered for her ever-present smile and her “gutsy determination” to get better after receiving injuries from the bombing at the Boston Marathon, McGrath not only received help to heal but was also part of the healing process for others who survived that day at the marathon, whether other victims or rescuers.

Boston Marathon bombing survivor Victoria McGrath dies in car crash overseas https://t.co/1sAWNAjKhi pic.twitter.com/3ZqDTvlvaq

— Boston.com (@BostonDotCom) March 7, 2016

The Boston Marathon itself is a community of like-minded individuals who either run the marathon, help with it, or support those who do. After the bombing on April 15, 2013, the survivors became a community, as well. New friendships were formed, strangers became family, warrior spirits were shared, and the community of support grew not only in Boston but across the country.

As the Boston Herald reported, that community is taking this loss hard. Carlos Arredondo, one of the good samaritans who rushed in to help those he could, expressed that loss felt by everyone.

“Life is so fragile. We came together so many times to go through the healing process. Now we’re all trying to deal with the tragedy of losing beautiful Victoria.”

Boston Marathon bombing survivor dies in car crash overseas https://t.co/TGSGGCm0i0 pic.twitter.com/Vr2s8B09ki

— Boston.com (@BostonDotCom) March 7, 2016

Boston firefighter Jim Plourde, who carried McGrath to a waiting stretcher after the first bomb exploded and shrapnel seriously injured her leg, told the Globe she had become part of his family.

“The truth is Victoria saved my life after the Marathon as her love, support, and friendship helped myself and my family deal with the acts of 4/15/13.”

Two Tragedies

When thousands of participants, workers, and spectators headed out to the Boston Marathon on the morning of April 15, 2013, they didn’t know Tamerlan Tsarnaev and his younger brother Dzhokhar were headed there also. The brothers placed two pressure cooker bombs at the finish line of the marathon and detonated them, killing three people and injuring hundreds more. The older brother was killed during a shootout with police, and the younger brother was later sentenced to death in federal court.

McGrath was mere feet from the finish line when the first bomb exploded and shrapnel sliced her artery. She suffered nerve damage and had to undergo surgeries and rehab to regain the use of her leg, but she faced the challenges with positivity that strengthened both her and those around her. Sadly, she could not escape this final tragedy far from her home in Boston, but she will be remembered for her desire to help others and her fighting spirit.

Going Forward

CBS Films and Mark Wahlberg are filming a movie about the Boston Marathon bombings, but not everyone is thrilled to be involved. The UMass-Dartmouth campus, where the younger Tsarnaev attended before he participated in the bombing, released a statement that they “decided to decline the request” to allow filming on their campus due to the disruptions it would cause. Additionally, the city of Watertown declined a request for film crews to recreate the shoot-out scene between the older Tsarnaev and police, where he was killed by law enforcement.

Hopefully, the film, once it is completed, will reflect not only the impact of the Boston Marathon bombing tragedy but the fighting spirit of all of the victims, survivors, good samaritans, and first responders alike that reflect the “Boston strong” ideal.

[Photo by Paul Marotta/Getty Images]