Local Student Killed in Train Accident Identified

HAVERTOWN–The 18-year-old Havertown teenager who was in the early morning hours of Sunday, Dec. 11, has been identified as Brendan Seward. 

issued a press release Sunday that they were at the Overbrook station of the SEPTA Route 100 high speed line at 2:30 a.m. after a train struck an 18-year-old male.

Through Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School's principal administrative assistant Marge Roccio, Principal William Brannick confirmed to Patch that the person struck was Brendan Seward, a 2011 graduate of the school.

Because Seward is a recent graduate, grief counselors were available, Roccio explained.

"Yes, the school had grief counselors available. He was remembered in morning prayers daily and there was a prayer service on Monday afternoon after 8th period. A lot of Brendan's family members attended as did a lot of students and grads," she stated.

Stretch Funeral Home featured Seward's obituary on its website.

"Beloved son of Kathleen (Nee Carroll) and the late Michael W. Seward. Loving brother and Devoted best friend of Meghan M. and Timothy M. Seward," read part of the obituary.

It stated that family and friends are invited to the visitation Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and again on Friday from 10 a.m. to 10:55 a.m. at the on 401 Brookline Blvd., Havertown. His funeral Mass will be on Friday at 11 a.m.

Roccio stated that Seward was scheduled to attend this fall semester, but the school's public relations department has not yet returned Patch's message to confirm that information. Although a few tweets found in a Twitter search did mention both Seward and the college.

A friend of Seward made a tribute video on Youtube (note: the video contains profanity), in which the video's description reads: "A little video I put together for my recently deceased friend Brendan Seward. He had a personality (I've) never seen before and a smile that I'll always remember."

Seward would have been 19 years old Sunday, Dec. 18.