Despite the fatality, the tailgate festivities continued.

As rumors spread through the partying crowd, many students were entirely unaware of the tragedy or unsure of its seriousness until much later.

Many first heard about the crash when an announcer called for a moment of silence for the accident victims and their families at the start of halftime.

Players on both teams were in the locker rooms during that broadcast and did not learn about the collision until after the end of the game, which Harvard won 45-7.

Harvard coach Tim Murphy learned of the death shortly after the game ended.

“I can’t imagine coming to a football game—a festive occasion—and something like this happens,” Murphy said. “Just so tragic, and our heart goes out to their family.”

Yale coach Tom Williams heard about the incident during halftime but decided against informing his players.

Harvard University President Drew G. Faust and Provost Alan M. Garber ’76 left the game to visit the hospital to check on the status of the injured Harvard employee, according to University Spokesperson John D. Longbrake.

In a press release, Yale stated that its athletics program and college dean’s office will conduct “a full review of the policies and regulations relating to tailgating before athletic events” in response to the accident.

Yale’s tailgate policies have long been viewed as more lenient than Harvard’s.

In recent years, U-Haul trucks have been banned, along with kegs and hard liquor, when The Game is played at Harvard.

—E. Benjamin Samuels contributed reporting to this article.

—Staff writer Robert S. Samuels can be reached at robertsamuels@college.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Julie M. Zauzmer can be reached at jzauzmer@college.harvard.edu.