Two Other Class of '01 Members Injured

Two recent graduates are recovering from injuries sustained in a car crash in Argentina on Nov. 14.

Owen I. Breck ’01 has returned home to New York with minor injuries, but Robert A. D. Pike ’01 remains hospitalized in Buenos Aires.

Breck and Pike, along with Ogden “Denny” Lewis ’01, were on their way to the Patagonia area of Argentina and Chile for a Thanksgiving hiking expedition. They were near the town of Puerto Madryn, Argentina when their car flipped over.

“They were driving on a gravel road and lost traction,” said Justin G. Muzinich ’00, a close friend of the victims. “It was on a road where many accidents happen,” Muzinich added.

Pike, a graduate of Eliot House, suffered a fractured skull, and received brain surgery at a hospital in Patagonia. After the surgery, Pike was moved to a hospital in Buenos Aires.

“He is receiving expert care,” wrote Muzinich and Roman Martinez ’00 in an email to the Harvard 2001 class list.

Pike’s condition has stabilized, but he is still not able to return home, according to Muzinich.

“He has been exchanging words with the doctors, so he’s speaking a little,” Muzinich said.

Pike’s father is with his son in the Buenos Aires hospital.

Friends said Pike has received great support from family and friends.

“His father is with him and he’s receiving a lot of supportive emails from friends,” Muzinich said. “His father reads the messages to him.”

Back at Harvard, those who know Pike are hopefully optimistic about his recovery.

“I was happy to know that Rob’s doing so well and hope we will have more good news in the coming days and weeks,” said Eliot House Master Lino Pertile , who said he knew both Pike and Breck “very well.”

Pike had been in Buenos Aires on a fellowship, working at a venture capital firm that specialized in investing in small businesses in developing areas in order to promote development.

The other survivor, Owen I. Breck ’01, suffered broken bones in his legs, as well as some cuts and bruises, but escaped without serious injury. He is now in New York where he is staying with his parents and recovering from his injuries.

“He has minor leg injuries, but he’s fine,” Muzinich said.

Breck could not be reached for comment.

“The whole emotional experience must be so traumatic for Owen,” said Samantha A. Goldstein ’00, a friend of the three victims since high school. “These were two of his best friends.”

Breck and Lewis spent their elementary school years together at The Buckley School, a private boys school in New York City . Breck was a year ahead of Lewis.

The two friends continued on to high school together, attending Groton School in Groton, Mass. At Groton, they met the personable squash player Pike.

After graduating from Groton in 1996, Breck went on to Harvard. Lewis and Breck followed the same path to Cambridge the following year. The three friends graduated together in 2001 after Breck took a year off.

Friends expect to see Breck at Lewis’ funeral today.