Teen Sisters Among Victims as Crash Kills 2, Critically Hurts 3

Two sisters were among five Mattawan High School students killed or critically injured early Sunday when the vehicle they were traveling in crashed into a tree in rural Michigan, authorities and school officials said.

Jordyn Bigham, 15, and another 16-year-old student died at the scene of the Kalamazoo County crash shortly before 3:30 a.m., according to officials and a fundraising campaign created by Bigham’s family.

Jordyn’s sister, 16-year-old Jadisson “Jada” Bigham, was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Two other students, ages 15 and 17, were also hospitalized and listed in critical but stable condition, WOOD-TV reported.

According to the family’s fundraiser, Jada faces a long and challenging recovery that will include extensive medical care, surgeries and continuing treatment.

“Their mother is now carrying a heavy burden that no parent should ever have to face: mourning the loss of one daughter while standing by the hospital bed of another.”

All five students attended Mattawan High School, located in a community of roughly 2,500 people about 60 miles south of Grand Rapids.

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The father of one of the injured students identified her as Liyra Fuller through a separate online fundraiser.

Police believe the car was heading west along West R Avenue when it left the road and slammed into a tree at approximately 3:23 a.m. Sunday. Investigators had not yet determined who was behind the wheel or where the group was going.

Residents gathered Monday evening for a vigil in the Mattawan High School parking lot. Flowers and balloons have also been placed at a makeshift memorial near the crash site.

Randy Fleenor, superintendent of the Mattawan Consolidated School District, told WZZM that the outpouring of support has deeply affected the community.

“Just to know that we’re not alone, that we’re all in this together, and means a great deal to the students here and the staff that know these kids,” Fleenor said.

Fleenor said students are processing the tragedy in different ways, with some choosing not to speak about it immediately before their emotions emerge days or even weeks later.

Mattawan High School serves slightly more than 1,100 students in grades nine through 12, according to U.S. News & World Report.