UMass mourns a loss

Student hit by train was 19, from France

By OWEN BOSS
Staff Writer

AMHERST — Staff at the University of Massachusetts are helping students on campus cope with the death Thursday of a UMass student, who died when he was struck by a train in Leverett early that afternoon.

The student was identified as Peter Boutarel, 19, a sophomore political science and philosophy major from Dax, France, who lived in Baker dormitory in the campus’ Central living area, according to the UMass News Office.

Diana Fordham, the residential area director for the Orchard Hill and Central living areas, said campus staff had notified and met with his former roommate and friends Friday afternoon and that further support would be made available to all other students.

There was no indication of foul play, and the medical examiner has not yet performed an autopsy, said Renee Steese, Northwestern first assistant district attorney. She declined to comment on whether the death was accidental or might be a suicide.

Steese said Boutarel’s relatives have been notified, she said.

The news of Boutarel’s death came as a shock Friday afternoon to UMass juniors Elliot Sicard and Mark Gazo, both of whom also live in Baker but said they didn’t know Boutarel personally.

“We’ve only been here for about a week, so we didn’t know him,” Sicard said. “All that I can say is that I am totally shocked.”

Boutarel attended UMass last year and lived in Webster Hall in the Orchard Hill living area, according to campus officials.

Daniel Fitzgibbons, a spokesman in the university’s news office, said a campus-wide email went out Friday with news of Boutarel’s death, advising students who may need assistance in dealing with his death to contact the dean of students office.

“The death of any member of our community is a loss to everyone. We particularly extend our deepest sympathy to Peter’s family and friends. Times like these remind us how fragile life is, and how, as a caring community, we need to reach out and support one another as we each deal with this loss in our own ways.”

Fitzgibbons said the Dean of Students is coordinating a response that makes available to his friends and acquaintances UMass mental health staff, chaplains and residence hall staff. The standard protocol involves working through the residence hall network to identify those who lived with Boutarel and knew him, and ensure that counseling is available.

No memorial service has been scheduled, according to the news office.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com