It was here at Memorial Drive and Karylyn Drive that a tragedy happened. A 16-year-old student was killed when her vehicle collided with a Colonial School District school bus on Thursday afternoon around 3:30 Pm. Police identified her as Jordan Tate, a junior at William Penn High School.
NEW CASTLE (DE): Police say nearly 20 students were on the bus that had just left Eisenberg Elementary School in New Castle when the crash occurred. The Colonial School District says those students were shaken but unharmed.
Three other 16-year-old girls — all William Penn students — were in the car at the time of the accident, a 16-year-old female was transported to a local hospital for serious life-threatening injuries. Two other 16-year-old female passengers of the vehicle were transported to a local hospital for their non-life-threatening injuries.
Police are still trying to piece together exactly what happened at this intersection as the crash remains under investigation.
On Friday, we spoke to one eyewitness, Michelle Robinson-Patrick, who tried to help Tate, “Her eyes. She was just looking at me like, “Please help me!”, and at that point in time, I was reaching into the car so that I could help the driver and unfortunately there was a man fighting me. He was trying to not let me help this girl. So I was trying to fight this man and get into the car to try to help this girl. I ran back to my bus to get a nurse because I drive a special needs bus. I was the second bus involved and I brought the nurse over and we both looked at her and there was not much we could do. So I just got in there because she had her hand up and I grabbed her hand and I told her, your family loves you, I love you, and it will be okay.”
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In the meantime, William Penn Crisis teams and grief counselors were on hand in the school’s auditorium and there was a moment of silence in the morning.
Tate, was a junior involved in ROTC at William Penn High School and on Friday, her friends held a vigil at the scene of the accident on Friday at 5:30 Pm. The vigil was organized by one of her friends, Aki Newman, “She was always there for all of us. When we needed money, rides — all that. She was the best person that she could be for us,” the 18-year-old said.
“I will always remember Jordan from her laugh, her goofiness, to her happiness. Jordan was the best person at William Penn High School. She showed everybody love from teachers and staff to students. She was the best person. She would give her clothes off her back and give money out of her pocket.”, Newman said.
Now investigators say more information especially video would help in their investigation so if you have any home security footage or if you witnessed this accident, please contact New Castle County Police Detective Hussong at william.hussong@newcastlde.gov or New Castle County Police at (302) 573-2800.
Citizens can also submit a tip via our website at http://www.nccpd.com. Tipsters may also call Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333 or visit us on Facebook at New Castle County Division of Police.
Additionally, if you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a violent crime or an accident or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and are in need assistance, the New Castle County Division of Police Victim Services Unit is available to offer you support and resources through (302) 395-8000.
