Western Offers Counseling, Support after Death of Student Madeline Hurd

Western Washington University is providing counseling and support to the friends and family of Western student Madeline Hurd as they share their grief over her death.

Hurd was killed in a one-car accident on Wednesday, Feb. 20, on the Mount Baker Highway. A passenger in the car, also a Western student, was treated and released from St. Joseph Hospital, according to the Bellingham Herald.

Hurd was a senior majoring in Recreation at Western.

“Maddie Hurd was an amazing young woman, an excellent student, and a wonderful friend to her fellow students. She was a recreation professional that was already making an incredible impact on the lives of others. Her goal was simple yet powerful: she wanted to inspire others to push themselves, to get out of their comfort zones, and to discover their true potential. She will be greatly missed,” said Keith Russell, chair of Western’s Recreation program. “Our condolences go out to her family and friends in the Recreation Program and Mount Baker and Glacier community.”

Western’s Counseling Center, which is available to Western students, can be reached during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) by calling (360) 650-3164. For after-hours crisis support call 360-650-3164 and select Option 1. 

For more information, see the Bellingham Herald story here.