A college professor from South Carolina has been identified as the only American fatality in a tragic cable car accident in Portugal, which has left many seeking answers.

Dr. Heather Hall was confirmed among the 16 individuals who perished on Wednesday when a 19th-century streetcar derailed and crashed during rush hour traffic.

The College of Charleston reported that Hall, a professor in the education department, was attending a conference in Lisbon when the disaster struck.

Fran Welch, the dean of the School of Education, described Hall as a ‘dynamic instructor’ with a focus on special education and praised her for ‘sharing her love of travel with her students’.

After graduating from the university in 1997, Hall taught students in Ghana as a Fulbright Scholar before returning to Charleston, where she taught special education for nearly twenty years.

According to her professor profile, she participated in the governor-appointed Charleston Disability Board and achieved her doctorate from the University of South Carolina.

She returned to her alma mater as a professor in 2019 and organized several study abroad trips, spreading her love of traveling to her students.

Outside of the classroom, Hall loved to perform and participated in Heart: An Inclusive Arts Community, which supported adult artists with disabilities. 

‘Whether she was onstage singing and dancing, or across the globe on one of her many study abroad adventures — from France to Ghana to Central America — Heather approached life with infectious enthusiasm and curiosity,’ her family wrote in a statement sent to local ABC affiliate, WCIV. 

The tribute continued that among Hall’s numerous achievements, she was most proud of being a mother to her two children. 

‘She believed in them with all her heart and wanted nothing more than for them to live their lives fully — finding their purpose, trusting themselves, and being open to joy, adventure, and the wild, wonderful possibility of life,’ the statement continued. 

‘Heather Lynn Hall leaves behind a legacy of love, courage, inclusion, and joy. May we honor her by living as she did—with curiosity, compassion, and open hearts’. 

Hall’s colleagues remembered her as a dedicated educator who loved to travel and explore the world. 

Bridget Miller, an education professor at the University of South Carolina, told the Post and Courier that Hall ‘adored’ her students. 

The two professors met on a study abroad trip to Italy in May 2024, and Miller said she learned how to manage students on an international trip from her. 

Miller also recalled Hall’s goofy personality, recounting how she used to yell from her balcony, ‘Juliet? Juliet?’ until Miller, who lived on the floor below her, responded. 

Professor Yasha Jones Becton, who served as Hall’s dissertation advisor, remembered her as ‘a passionate educator and an even more passionate mother’. 

Jennifer Morrison, a former professor at USC, told the Post and Courier that Hall was a ‘ray of sunshine,’ adding that the two spoke just before Hall left for Portugal. 

When Morrison heard of the devastating crash, she texted Hall to make sure she was okay, but never heard back.

The Elevador da Gloria streetcar came off the rails and crashed into a hotel just after 6pm on Wednesday. 

There’s still little information on how the tragedy occurred. Portugal’s Office for Air and Rail Accident Investigations said a preliminary technical report would be released on Friday, but later pushed it to Saturday. 

Prime Minister Luis Montenegro described the crash as ‘one of the biggest tragedies of our recent past’. 

Authorities said that five Portuguese citizens, three British citizens, two Canadians, two South Koreans, one French, one Swiss, and one Ukrainian also lost their lives in the collision. 

In addition to those who were killed, 21 others were injured. Five remained in serious condition as of Friday afternoon, Portugal’s National Health Service confirmed to the Associated Press.