College Instructor and Mom of 2 Dead After Cable Car Broke Loose

A college instructor was killed in Portugal after a cable car derailed, killing 16 people and leaving 21 others injured.

According to a statement from the College of Charleston in South Carolina, Dr. Heather Hall, a mother of two and a Department of Teacher Education faculty member specializing in literacy and special education, died in the tragic accident, which occurred on Wednesday, Sept. 3. She was 51, per the Post and Courier.

The Associated Press reported that a 19th-century streetcar in Lisbon derailed and crashed during the evening rush hour. The cable car, known as the Elevador da Gloria, was crumpled after it seemingly crashed into a building where the road bends.

Five Portuguese nationals, three British citizens, two Canadians, two South Koreans, one French person, one Swiss and one Ukrainian were also among the deceased, police said.

“This is a tragic loss for all of us,” School of Education Dean Fran Welch told PEOPLE in a statement. “Heather’s untimely death occurred while she was in Lisbon to speak at a conference.”

“As an alumna of the College (‘97) and a dynamic instructor with a specialization in special education, she shared her love of travel with her students. Her energy, kindness and student-centeredness will be deeply missed,” Welch added.

According to the college, Hall was a Fulbright Scholar in Ghana and was a lifelong advocate for people with disabilities, serving on the governor-appointed Charleston County Disabilities Board.

“Heather learned how to understand and celebrate other cultures,” the college wrote. “She shared her love of travel with her students on study abroad trips to Italy. She was planning future learning experiences in Iceland and Belize.”

The 51-year-old was a longtime South Carolina resident. She was born in Rock Hill and earned college degrees from around the state as a first-generation college student, including at the University of South Carolina, where she received her doctorate. She also worked as a special educator in the Charleston County School District, working with both children and adults with disabilities.

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Her family described her in a statement as “a beloved daughter, sister, mother, educator and advocate” who “passed away doing what she did best — living life fully, boldly, and with a heart wide open to the world.”

“She didn’t just have friends — she had soul-deep connections with people who felt truly seen and cherished by her,” Hall’s family wrote. “To know Heather was to be known and loved in return.”

“She believed deeply in the power of education to change lives, and she poured her wisdom, joy, and belief in others into her students and colleagues alike,” her family added.

Speaking to the Post and Courier, Bridget Miller, a longtime friend of Hall’s, said that she was also a passionate supporter of the arts, and even performed with a local performing arts group called Heart: An Inclusive Arts Community. She also made appearances in Outer Banks and The Righteous Gemstones as an extra.

According to Miller, Hall worked on her dissertation in between takes on the TV sets, writing until a member of the crew called out, “Teacher lady, we need you.”

“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,” Hall’s family wrote.

“She taught all of us that the hardest part of stepping into a new experience is simply showing up — and once you do, the world opens wide. Her life was extraordinary, not only in her accomplishments but in the way she loved and lived,” the family said.

Hall’s family also emphasized how much she loved being a mother, writing that her “most cherished role was that of being a mother to two amazing 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,” they wrote.

The College of Charleston told PEOPLE that students impacted by Hall’s death can receive assistance through the school by contacting the Counseling Center. Faculty and staff may contact AllOne Health.

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