Two Michigan high school students were killed and three others seriously injured after their car veered off a rural road and struck a tree early Sunday morning, leaving one family mourning the loss of a daughter while praying for her critically injured sister.
The devastating crash occurred around 3:23 a.m. on October 18 in Texas Township, Kalamazoo County, approximately 60 miles south of Grand Rapids.
All five teenagers inside the vehicle attended Mattawan High School, where the tragedy has left students, teachers and families struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss.
According to the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office, the vehicle was traveling west on West R Avenue near South 2nd Street when it left the south side of the roadway and collided with a tree.
Emergency responders arrived to find two students, ages 15 and 16, fatally injured. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Three other teenagers, ages 15, 16 and 17, were rushed to area hospitals with critical injuries.
Authorities said the 16-year-old survivor was in particularly serious condition, while the other two injured students were initially described as critical but stable.
One of the students killed has been identified by her family as Jordyn Bigham, 15.
Her older sister, Jadisson “Jada” Bigham, 16, was also inside the car and suffered life-threatening injuries.
According to a fundraiser established to support the family, Jada faces an extensive recovery involving medical procedures, possible additional surgeries and ongoing care.
The sisters’ mother is now confronting an unimaginable situation, grieving the death of one daughter while remaining at the hospital bedside of another.
A message shared on the family’s fundraising page described the emotional and financial difficulties ahead as relatives prepare for Jordyn’s funeral while supporting Jada’s treatment.
Another injured student has been identified by her family as Liyra Fuller, whose father also established an online fundraiser to help with medical expenses.
Authorities have not publicly identified the second student who died, and investigators have not released additional information about the other injured teenager.
The circumstances leading up to the crash remain unclear.
Investigators are working to determine who was driving, why the vehicle left the roadway and where the teenagers were traveling at such an early hour.
Police have not announced whether speed, road conditions, impairment or another factor contributed to the accident.
The tragedy has shaken Mattawan, a small community in southwestern Michigan where the high school serves approximately 1,100 students.
Mattawan Consolidated School District Superintendent Randy Fleenor confirmed the deaths in a message to families Sunday, expressing sorrow over the loss of two members of the school community.
“It is with profound sadness that I share news of an accident involving five Mattawan High School students,” Fleenor said.
The district began providing additional counseling and emotional support for students and staff as classmates returned to school following the weekend.
Fleenor acknowledged that young people process grief differently and emphasized the importance of offering continued assistance in the weeks ahead.
“Everybody grieves differently, and you really see that after an incident this traumatic,” he explained.
He noted that some students may initially struggle to express their feelings, while others may not begin processing the tragedy until much later.
On Monday evening, October 19, hundreds of students, parents and community members gathered in the Mattawan High School parking lot for a candlelight vigil honoring the teenagers.
Attendees stood together in silence, held candles and offered prayers for the families of those who died and the three students still recovering in hospitals.
Flowers, balloons and other memorial items were also placed near the crash site along West R Avenue.
The gathering reflected the close-knit community’s determination to support the families during an exceptionally difficult time.
Fleenor said the outpouring of support from residents, neighboring schools and community organizations had been deeply meaningful.
“Just to know that we’re not alone, that we’re all in this together, means a great deal to the students here and the staff that know these kids,” he said.
The crash has also prompted renewed conversations about teenage driving safety, particularly during overnight hours when visibility is reduced and fatigue can become a concern.
However, officials have not established that driver fatigue or any other specific factor caused Sunday’s collision.
The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office continues investigating the accident with assistance from Michigan State Police and local emergency responders.
Anyone with information about the vehicle’s movements before the crash is encouraged to contact the sheriff’s office at 269-383-8784.
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