Joey Raccuia, a freshman at Virginia College, has sadly died following a fatal car crash. Raccuia, a member of Radford University's baseball was only 19 years old. The team confirmed his death via a statement posted to Instagram.
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"We are heartbroken to share news of the passing of Joey Raccuia," the statement read. "Joey's impact on our team, this community and all the lives he touched went far beyond the playing field, and we miss him deeply."
According to The Roanoke Times, the crash occurred on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at around 11:20 a.m. The incident wasn't far from Radford's baseball stadium. Raccuia was unfortunately pronounced dead at the scene.
Raccuia had participated in two of Radford's seven games this season, making one start. He played as a middle infielder and pitcher.
According to The Roanoke Times, Raccuia had long-standing ties with Radford's baseball program. His father, Joe Raccuia, is a former coach for the team. Joe led the team as head coach for twelve seasons between 2008 and 2019. He led The Highlanders to two Big South Tournament Championships.
According to People, an investigation regarding the crash is underway. However, no further details have been made public.
Radford University Releases Statement to Community Following Joey Raccuia's Death
Following Raccuia's passing, Radford University released a statement to the community, as shared by WDBJ7.
"Dear Highlander Family, It is with deep sadness that I share news of the death of Joey Raccuia, a first-year student at Radford," the statement reads. "We are heartbroken by his passing yesterday and extend our condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time."
The statement then continued to share a location for members of the community to gather and pay tribute to Raccuia while also processing his loss as a unit.
"We have reserved space in Heth Hall room 14 from 6-8 p.m., today, for anyone who would like to discuss and process the loss of our fellow Highlander. This is an opportunity for our community to come together to receive and provide support."
Currently, no information regarding Raccuia's impending funeral has been released. Those details will likely remain private for family and close friends.
