'Tragic Loss:' NJ High School Student Dies After Head-On Crash

NEW JERSEY – Another community is grieving after a "tragic loss:" A New Jersey high school student died from her injuries in a head-on car crash this weekend.

The teen passenger died on Friday after she was injured in the crash on Feb. 14 in Washington Township in Warren County, authorities told Patch on Sunday.

"It is with great sadness that we inform you that a student at North Hunterdon High School has passed away from injuries sustained in a tragic car accident," Greg Cottrell, principal of North Hunterdon High School, said in a letter to parents. "Teachers and staff members have been informed and they were asked then to convey the information to students."

School Counselors and Child Study Team members are available to meet with grieving students, Cottrell said. Counselors from the Traumatic Loss Coalition and Voorhees High School are available.

"Please encourage your son or daughter to go to the Guidance Department/Child Study Team if they need someone to help them process their grief," he said.

The incident happened at 3:25 p.m. on the 300 block of Route 31 when a northbound Toyota Prius, operated by Ming You, 65, of Glendale, NY, crossed into the southbound lane, police said. It's not known why the vehicle crossed into the wrong lane.

The car struck a Dodge Dakota operated by Stephan Fix, 52, of Washington Township, police said.

All three people in the Toyota Prius were airlifted to Morristown Memorial Hospital and the driver of the Dodge Dakota was transported to St. Luke’s Warren Campus, police said.

A gofundme.com account has been set up to help the family of those injured with medical or burial expenses. The GoFundMe page partially identifies two children who were critically injured: a sophomore at North Hunterdon High School and a 6th grader in Clinton Public School. The driver, who is their grandfather, was also critically injured.

Joe Morsbach of Franklin Township in Warren County, who started the fundraiser, later updated to announce that the high school student, only identified as Joanne, died.

"Please continue to keep this family in your prayers, and if there is ever a moment you can support them, consider a small donation," he said. "Joanne, we love you and hope you are at peace."

Morsbach said he started the fundraiser "in an effort to offset some of the financial burden that is to come with medical and/or final expenses."

"The parents run a local business in Washington Township and have not been able to run at capacity since they have been by their children's' side," he said. "Anything anyone is willing to give is greatly appreciated. Even if it's just prayers (of which they are in dire need)."

When we hear of another person’s death, Cottrell said, it is very common "for our own feelings about death to surface."

"Our students will begin to think of their own experiences with death and many normal feelings will arise for them," he said in the letter. "These feelings may focus on the person who has recently died, on another person who died in the past, an impending death, or anxiety about death in general."

"During this very sad time, it is important that we pull together to support one another and keep the student’s family in your thoughts and prayers," he added.