On April 21, 2025, tragedy struck just outside school grounds. A car accident on Q Street claimed the life of sophomore Ellie Cole, a beloved sophomore whose warmth, kindness and light left a lasting mark on everyone she met. The news of her passing sent a wave of grief across the school and community. However, this accident does not define Cole’s story. She will not be remembered by the accident but rather by who she was and the lasting impact she made.
To know Cole was to love her. In every group she was a part of, whether it was Uptown, the varsity Treble Show Choir, German Club, or the Justice and Diversity Council, she gave more than just her time. She gave her heart. On stage, she lit up every performance with a joy that was impossible to ignore. She made it her goal to make the room laugh in meetings and classrooms. Cole didn’t need to try to stand out; her kindness and light naturally drew people in. She made you feel like nothing was that serious, but that the most important thing in life was to make it worth living.
“Ellie had the brightest soul ever,” sophomore Mitch Fisher said. “She was always including everyone, and overall, the nicest person I’ve met. She was my first definition of what a real friend is. I wish everyone had a little Ellie in them.”
She was one of my closest friends, and I struggle to find words to describe how deeply knowing her changed me. Her friendship was life-changing. Seeing the loving way she treated her sisters and parents, as well as the way she carried herself, inspires me. I will carry her with me for the rest of my life.
In the days following her passing, a memorial was formed at the crash site. It is adorned with flowers, notes, stuffed bunnies, photos, and candles, lovingly placed by those who knew and cherished her. On May 15, more than 50 students and community members gathered for a stand-in on Q Street that attracted the news. Those in attendance held signs urging drivers to slow down, drive cautiously and emphasized that reckless driving not only puts your life in danger but also other people’s. It was a beautiful display of unity and people coming together to urge for change.
“The stand-in was such an awesome display of not only love for Ellie but also how many people want a change,” sophomore Miley Blue said. “ I am so thankful that everyone who drove past us was able to see it and consider their driving habits.”
Q Street has long been known for speeding and reckless driving. This is something that has led to far too many accidents and lives lost. It is even more concerning that this section of Q Street has five schools along it, meaning the area is dense with students, teachers and parents. Cole’s death wasn’t just a tragic accident, but a reminder of a problem that has been ignored for far too long.
“People have been speeding down Q Street for years, and nothing has ever changed,” sophomore Addison Friesen said. “It’s like everyone knew it was dangerous, but no one did anything to stop it.”
Every time we get behind the wheel, we make choices that affect not only ourselves but everyone around us. Respect the speed limit. Put your phone away. Do not assume you have the right to break the law because you are late. Q Street runs through a community, not a race track. A two-ton car doesn’t forgive a careless mistake. Respect the speed limit not just because it’s the law, but because every person you pass is someone’s friend, someone’s sibling, someone’s child. When you drive with intention and patience, you are protecting lives. No one should have to grieve someone they love because of a choice that could have been changed.
Now, there is an empty seat in choir and a silence where laughter used to echo. Cole’s story didn’t get the ending it deserved- not because of fate, but because someone didn’t slow down. If love alone could’ve saved her, she’d still be here. But now, all we can do is carry her light forward and beg the world to drive like every life matters, because they do.
This story was originally published on The Catalyst on May 20, 2025.
