Prayer flags flap in the wind above a painted rock at the Bromfield School which became a gathering place for students and their families after the tragic accident that claimed 14-year-old Jessie Peterson’s life. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
Fourteen-year-old Jessica Peterson of East Bare Hill Road was fatally injured Saturday, March 14, and her mother, Betsy, was seriously hurt when a tree fell in the family’s yard, striking them both. The two had been working in the yard and stopped to rest on a hammock that was suspended between two trees, when one of the trees toppled over on them. Since the accident, hundreds in the community have come together to begin to deal with their loss and to offer support for the Peterson family.
A neighbor called police on Saturday afternoon after hearing cries for help and locating the victims in their yard, according to Harvard police. Police, fire, and ambulance personnel found Jessica unconscious with a serious head injury and found Betsy pinned under a tree about 2 feet in diameter and 10 feet tall.
Jessica, a member of Bromfield’s freshman class, was rushed by a MedFlight helicopter to UMass Medical Center in Worcester. MedFlight was called at 1:55 p.m., landed at the elementary school at 2:10 p.m., and took off at 2:36 p.m., Police Chief Ed Denmark said.
Betsy, who suffered serious injuries to her lower extremities including a broken leg and fractured pelvis, was taken by ambulance to Emerson Hospital and was later transported to UMass Worcester to be with her daughter. Jessica was pronounced dead at 11:34 Sunday morning. Betsy underwent successful surgery on Monday and faces a period of extensive rehabilitation.
The Reverend Gregory Schmidt and Father Dennis O’Brien lead prayers on the Common during a candlelight vigil for the Peterson family last Saturday, just hours after the accident.
Denmark said that when he inspected the fallen tree he found it had rotted from the inside. Although the tree was obviously dead, with its top portion missing, there were no signs on the outside that would give a visual clue that the tree could be in danger of falling, he said, adding that its condition didn’t appear to be related to December’s ice storm.
Word of the accident spread quickly on the Facebook website within hours after it occurred, prompting more than 100 people to gather in support of the Peterson family at a candlelight vigil on the Common Saturday night, led by the Rev. Gregory Schmidt of the Congregational Church and Father Dennis O’Brien of Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
On Sunday Richard Backer of Candleberry Lane, a chaplain and the father of one of Jessica’s classmates, organized a gathering of ninth-grade students and their parents at Art and Cloth on Ayer Road, owned by Bromfield middle school art teacher Sharon Chandler. Sorrento’s Pizza on Ayer Road donated food for the group.
Family and friends light candles and huddle together on the Common on Saturday night as the severity of Jessie’s injuries sinks in.
A gathering took place Sunday evening at the pond, where, according to a family friend, the Peterson family had “spent many hours sailing, swimming, and being with the community.” People were invited to make and launch paper cranes in the pond, sending them out on the water with their thoughts and prayers.
On Sunday members of Bromfield’s senior class had painted the rock in front of the school as a memorial to Jessica, according to the mother of one of Jessica’s classmates. “The seniors seem to really want to take care of this freshman class,” she said.
In an e-mail sent to parents Monday afternoon, Bromfield Principal Jim O’Shea said that the seniors had opened the “fish bowl,” a room off the cafeteria normally reserved for seniors, and offered “free cookies and hugs” to all students.
Before the start of school Monday, members of the ninth-grade class gathered at the rock memorial to remember Jessica and console each other. The rock, which had been painted white, displayed loving messages to Jessica in bright colors. A small garden was planted in front of the rock, with a large white cross implanted in the ground in front. Flowers lay against the rock, and symbols of caring and remembrance—a lacrosse racket, a stuffed toy, and more—were placed in the garden by Jessica’s friends and classmates.
Bromfield Principal Jim O’Shea and hundreds of Bromfield students gather at the town beach on Sunday night. The students made origami cranes that they launched on the pond to celebrate the too-short life of their classmate Jessie Peterson and to honor her connection to Bare Hill Pond.
O’Shea said that a crisis team had met at the school Monday morning to determine how best to support the students. Later students were made aware of support services that were available; grief counselors were at the school all day. O’Shea explained that students had the opportunity throughout the day Monday “to support one another, express their feelings and thoughts on cards, and visit the rock.” At 1:30 p.m., he said, staff members escorted the ninth-grade class to the pond to observe a moment of silence before returning to school.
O’Shea noted that counselors were available throughout the rest of the week for students, parents, and faculty members.
An open house was held at Bromfield on Wednesday night for parents to view messages, photos, and murals that were put up in the school in honor of Jessica, and to share their thoughts and prayers for the Peterson family. Counselors were also present to answer questions about how parents could support their children during this difficult time.
Denmark said that crisis support was also made available to first-responders to the scene of the accident. He said that the Fire Department held a “critical incident stress debriefing” for first-responders Saturday night and that there is an employee assistance program available to them as well.
O’Shea announced that the ninth-grade class trip to Washington, D.C., which was scheduled for this week, has been postponed.
Friends of the Peterson family have set up a website for those who would like to assist the family or leave messages of sympathy: www.petersonfamilysupport.com. According to the website, a fund is being established for the family. Cards can be sent to the Peterson family at P. O. Box 513, Harvard, MA 01451. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
