Dr. Heather Hall, a professor in the College of Charleston’s School of Education, was confirmed as the sole American killed in a cable car crash that left 16 people dead in Lisbon on Wednesday evening.
The Elevador da Glória, a 19th-century streetcar, came off the rails and crashed into a hotel just after 6 p.m., authorities said. Portuguese officials said the victims included five Portuguese citizens, three British citizens, two Canadians, two South Koreans, one French, one Swiss and one Ukrainian. In addition to those killed, 21 people were injured; Portugal’s National Health Service told the Associated Press that five remained in serious condition as of Friday afternoon.
College of Charleston officials identified Hall as one of the victims and said she was in Lisbon to attend a conference. Fran Welch, dean of the School of Education, described Hall as “a dynamic instructor” who specialized in special education and “shared her love of travel with her students.” A family statement provided to local affiliate WCIV said Hall “approached life with infectious enthusiasm and curiosity” and called her legacy “love, courage, inclusion, and joy.” The statement noted she was most proud of being a mother to two children.
Hall graduated from the College of Charleston in 1997, earned a doctorate from the University of South Carolina and served nearly two decades teaching special education in Charleston. She returned to her alma mater as a faculty member in 2019, organized study abroad trips, served on a governor-appointed disability board and taught as a Fulbright scholar in Ghana, her university profile said. Outside the classroom, colleagues noted, Hall performed with Heart: An Inclusive Arts Community, which supports adult artists with disabilities.
Prime Minister Luis Montenegro described the accident as “one of the biggest tragedies of our recent past.” Portugal’s Office for Air and Rail Accident Investigations said a preliminary technical report on the derailment had been scheduled for release Friday but was later pushed to Saturday as investigators continued to collect evidence and examine the wreckage.
Colleagues and former professors remembered Hall as a devoted educator and traveler. Bridget Miller, an education professor at the University of South Carolina who met Hall on a study abroad trip to Italy in May 2024, said Hall “adored” her students and helped colleagues learn how to manage students on international trips. Yasha Jones Becton, who served as Hall’s dissertation advisor, described her as “a passionate educator and an even more passionate mother.” Jennifer Morrison, a former professor at the University of South Carolina, said Hall was a “ray of sunshine” and recounted that she had last spoken with Hall before the professor departed for Portugal.
Portuguese authorities have not released a definitive cause for the derailment. Investigators from the national accident office are examining technical data and the vehicle’s condition to determine how the streetcar broke loose and left the rails. Emergency services responded to the scene Wednesday night, treating the injured and recovering those killed.
The crash has drawn international attention because the Elevador da Glória is a well-known historic transport line in Lisbon. Officials have said they will coordinate with foreign consulates to notify families and assist with repatriation where required. The College of Charleston said it was offering support to Hall’s family and to students and staff affected by the loss.
As investigations continue, Portuguese authorities urged patience while they complete technical analyses and interviews. The preliminary report, delayed by investigators, is expected to provide initial findings on the circumstances that led to the streetcar coming off the rails.