Aiden Alexander had just taken one of the most anticipated steps of his young life—walking across the stage at his high school graduation. Like any 18-year-old, he was filled with excitement about the summer ahead and the opportunities on the horizon. But in a single, devastating moment, a celebration turned into heartbreak, leaving a community reeling and a family shattered.
Just a few days after graduating from Pinconning High School on May 18, Aiden was driving his 16-year-old sister, Halen, home from school on a typical Thursday afternoon. What was supposed to be a routine drive changed their lives forever. On Mable Street, a pickup truck crossed the center line and collided with their vehicle head-on. Aiden died at the scene. Halen survived the crash but suffered severe injuries, including a broken collarbone and internal trauma. She remains hospitalized and faces a long road to recovery. Tragically, the family’s dog, Moose, who was also in the vehicle, did not survive.
Authorities reported that a 68-year-old man was driving the pickup truck that crossed into oncoming traffic. He sustained critical injuries and remains under medical care. Investigators are still working to determine what caused him to veer out of his lane. For now, the answers remain unclear, and the community is left grappling with sorrow and unanswered questions.
The news of Aiden’s death struck a painful chord throughout Pinconning. At the high school, where he had just celebrated graduation with classmates, the atmosphere on Friday was heavy with grief. Superintendent Andy Kowalczyk described Aiden as a kind-hearted, respectful student who was well-liked by both peers and teachers. “It’s tough,” he said, struggling to put into words the weight of the loss. “They were the kind of students you love to have in your classroom.”
The school district acted quickly, providing counselors to help students and staff cope with the tragedy. Mental health support was made available immediately, and school leaders urged anyone struggling to reach out for help. “We’re thinking of them,” Kowalczyk said, referencing Aiden’s family. “The whole school is pulling for them.”
Among those closest to Aiden, the grief runs even deeper. His cousin, Monica Rabie, described the heartbreak as surreal. “Everyone is numb. Just totally shocked,” she said. “Life can change in an instant—and it did.” As of Friday, the family had not yet told Halen that her brother and their dog had died. With so much to process, the family is taking things moment by moment, focused on helping her heal.
In response to the tragedy, the community has come together to support Aiden’s grieving family. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to help cover funeral expenses and provide financial support during Halen’s recovery. The page captures the raw pain and urgency of the moment: “Aiden was sent to heaven & Halen is in critical care with many surgeries ahead of her,” the message reads. “The family is devastated & heartbroken. We hope to raise funds for anything the family might need at this time.” Donations have poured in, accompanied by messages of love and condolences from neighbors, friends, and even strangers.
Aiden’s funeral will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 12, at The Snow Funeral Home in Saginaw. Cremation will follow in accordance with the family’s wishes. Visitation is scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, from noon until 7:00 p.m., and again on Thursday morning from 9:30 a.m. until the start of the service.
Rabie remembers Aiden as someone who brought light into every room. “He was just a super goofy kid, always trying to make people laugh,” she said. Aiden had big dreams. He was passionate about archery and had recently spoken with Rabie’s husband about pursuing a career in the trades. “He was asking for advice on how to get started,” she recalled. “We just talked.”
The timing of Aiden’s passing is especially painful. What was supposed to be a time for celebration—his graduation party—is now being transformed into a memorial. “His graduation party will end up being his funeral,” Rabie said. “It’s super sad.”
Emergency responders who arrived at the crash scene found all three individuals—Aiden, Halen, and the driver of the pickup—unconscious and trapped inside their vehicles. The impact had been catastrophic. Aiden’s mother first became aware that something was wrong when her daughter’s Apple Watch sent a crash alert. She began calling frantically, but no one answered. The family received confirmation of the accident shortly afterward.
Reflecting on her cousin’s life, Rabie described Aiden as a typical teenage boy—playful, driven, and full of promise. “You hate to say it,” she said, “but he was just a good kid. A typical boy with a good heart.” As Halen begins her physical recovery and the family prepares for a funeral they never imagined, the Pinconning community continues to mourn a young man lost far too soon.
The Pinconning Area School District acted swiftly in the hours following the accident, mobilizing its crisis response team Thursday night to plan mental health support services. By Friday morning, counselors were on-site at the high school to help students and staff navigate their grief. Superintendent Kowalczyk emphasized the importance of continuing these support efforts in the days and weeks ahead.
“We had meetings last night with the crisis team,” he said. “We knew we had to be there for the kids first thing in the morning.” The district continues to encourage students to seek help if they are struggling and remains committed to standing by the families and friends most affected by the tragedy.
As the community rallies together, Aiden’s memory lives on—not just in the sadness of his passing, but in the love and unity he inspired. From the halls of his high school to the hearts of those who knew him, Aiden’s story is now part of a shared grief—and a powerful reminder of how quickly life can change.
