18-Year-Old Dies in Car Crash Days After Graduating from High School: He Was 'Just About to Start Life — a Big Life'

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2 days ago

A Michigan teenager died in a car crash on May 29, just days after graduating from high school
Aiden Alexander, 18, reportedly died while driving his 16-year-old sister Halen home from school
According to a GoFundMe launched to support the family, Halen was in "critical care with many surgeries ahead of her" following the crashA Michigan teenager died in a car crash, just days after graduating from high school
Aiden Alexander, 18, died on Thursday, May 29, while driving his younger sister Halen, 16, home from school, according to KOLD-TV.
A vehicle struck the siblings' car head-on after veering into their lane, the outlet reported. Police told KOLD-TV that the other driver, a 68-year-old man, was critically injured in the crash. Officials are actively investigating the accident.
Aiden had just graduated on May 18, per WNEM-TV.
His sister survived the crash.
"It's tough," Pinconning Area Schools Superintendent Andy Kowalczyk told KOLD-TV. "[Aiden and Halen] were very respectful students; students that you'd like to have in your class."
The superintendent said he is fostering a healthy environment for students to speak about their feelings in the aftermath of the loss.
"Talking to people, that others are going through it too, and not to be ashamed to go talk to a counselor because they can really help," he said. "They know how to support students and how to get through some of these grieving processes."
PEOPLE reached out to Pinconning Area Schools and the Bay County Sheriff Department for additional information on Sunday, June 1, but did not receive an immediate response.
Kowalczyk also shared his condolences to the Alexander family, saying, "We're thinking of them. You know, the whole school is pulling for them."
A GoFundMe page has been created to support the family. So far, it has raised more than $19,000.
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"Aiden was sent to heaven & Halen is in critical care with many surgeries ahead of her," the GoFundMe description said. "The family is devastated & heartbroken. We hope to raise funds for anything the family might need at this time. Their family dog, Moose, was also taken away from them."
KOLD-TV reported that the dog was also in the car during the crash.
Aiden and Halen's cousin, Monica Rabie, told the outlet that Halen does not know her brother died.
"She's very out of it, I would say. She isn't aware of who passed. They've told her a couple of times, but she's not there yet to be able to understand," she said.
The cousin also opened up about Aidan's big plans following his graduation, saying he was "just about to start life, a big life."
"He was ready for job interviews, he had just gotten his license. He was very involved in church, had a long-term girlfriend. He always wanted everybody else to be laughing," Rabie said.
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