Boston Marathon bombing survivor Victoria McGrath and a fellow Northeastern University student have been killed in a car crash overseas.
"We are stunned, shocked and heartbroken," McGrath's mother, Jill McGrath, wrote in an email.
Another relative told the Boston Herald that the accident occurred in Dubai.
"Northeastern University has confirmed that two undergraduate students have been tragically killed in a car accident overseas," the school said in a statement Monday. "Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Victoria McGrath and Priscilla Perez Torres in this extremely difficult time."
In a letter to the Northeastern community, university President Joseph E. Aoun said "Victoria and Priscilla were vibrant, beloved members of our community, and their passing leaves a grievous absence in our community and in our hearts. This is a heartbreaking loss to their families, friends, and to all of us in the Northeastern family."
Both students were members of the Class of 2016. McGrath, 23, was from Weston, Connecticut, and Perez Torres was from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.
Three people were killed and more than 260 others injured when twin bombs placed near the Boston Marathon finish line exploded on April 15, 2013. McGrath, who was 20-years-old at the time, was five feet away from the first bomb when it went off, badly injuring her leg.
Bruce Mendelsohn, a former U.S. Army officer who happened to be in the area, used a T-shirt to tie a tourniquet on her leg, and Boston firefighter James Plourde carried her to a medical tent. The image of Plourde carrying McGrath became one of the iconic photos of the marathon bombings.
McGrath later met both men while she was recovering from her injuries at Tufts Medical Center.
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Plourde issued a statement Monday saying his family is "devastated" at the loss of its friend. "It's been said that I helped to save her life, but 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. Our thoughts and prayers to out to the McGrath and Perez Torres families as they deal with this unimaginable tragedy. #BostonStrong."
Tufts Medical Center also issued a statement Monday saying, "Our hearts ache for the family & friends of our former patient Victoria McGrath. She made a lasting impact on those who knew her."
Marathon bombing hero Carlos Arredondo told necn on Monday that he knew McGrath from attending various events with fellow survivors.
"My heart goes out to the family and friends," he said. "She was always a very kind person to all of us. We all miss her today."
Details on the crash were not immediately available. The Associated Press said the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi declined to comment.
