On Saturday, May 16, Franklin Pierce men's lacrosse player Luke Smith died in a car accident in Woodbridge, Conn., the school reported Wednesday. He was 20.

Smith, a midfielder, had just completed his sophomore year and was majoring management.

“Luke was a true ‘Franklin Pierce Kid,’” men’s lacrosse coach Rick Senatore said in a release. “He embraced his time here and made our campus a more enjoyable place, especially for those who were close to him. Luke was a dedicated member of the men's lacrosse team who was loyal to his teammates and coaches. We were very lucky to have him here at FPU, and we will truly miss him going forward.”

Franklin Pierce University and the Department of Athletics mourn the loss of @FPUMLacrosse student-athlete Luke Smith.https://t.co/uVTYHVPkV2 pic.twitter.com/AQBhR32Pxf

— FPU Ravens (@FPUathletics) May 20, 2020

Smith appeared in 10 games over two seasons with the Ravens, scoring two goals and collecting three ground balls. As of Friday afternoon at 2 p.m., a GoFundMe has raised close to $30,000 in his memory.

Franklin Pierce University president Kim Mooney sent the below email to the Franklin Pierce community Wednesday morning.

Dear Franklin Pierce Community:

It is with a heavy heart that I share with you the news of the passing of Luke Smith ’22. He passed away on Saturday, May 16 after a tragic car accident in Woodbridge, Connecticut near his hometown of Bethany. 

Luke was a beloved member of our community and a rising junior majoring in Management. Luke is a graduate of Amity Regional High School where he played lacrosse and football. In 2018, he came to Franklin Pierce University to play as a midfielder for the Division II Men’s Lacrosse team. Luke’s dedication and love of the sport helped lead the Ravens to victory in this past season’s last home game by scoring one of the last goals. Luke will always be remembered as embracing the Franklin Pierce spirit as a dear friend, a loyal teammate, and an inquisitive student.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the service and burial will be private. Luke’s family has made arrangement for a live streamed wake service on Thursday, May 21 and a drive though procession on Friday, May 22. Additional details about services are in Luke’s obituary, which can be found here. 

Students can access grief counseling through the University by contacting Nicole Newell, Director of Counseling and Outreach Services, at newelln@franklinpierce.edu.

We send our sincere condolences to Luke’s parents, William and Cynthia Smith, and his sister Alexandra ’18. Our hearts and thoughts go out to his family, friends, and the Franklin Pierce community who remember him fondly.  

Sincerely,

Kim Mooney
President