Aiden Alexander had just turned the page to a new chapter in his life. At 18, he was a fresh high school graduate with his whole future ahead of him. Just days after receiving his diploma, he was already mapping out his summer and thinking about what lay ahead. But within moments, all of that promise was taken away—replaced by a grief that has enveloped the Pinconning community.
On a Thursday afternoon, Aiden was behind the wheel of his car, giving his 16-year-old sister, Halen, a ride home from school. Their dog, Moose, was along for the ride. It was supposed to be just another drive down Mable Street, nothing out of the ordinary. But in an instant, everything changed.
A pickup truck, driven by a 68-year-old man, crossed the center line and crashed head-on into Aiden’s car. The collision was catastrophic.
Aiden died at the scene.
Halen, who had just finished classes for the day, was pulled from the wreckage with critical injuries, including a broken collarbone and internal trauma. She remains hospitalized. Moose, their faithful dog, did not survive.
First responders arrived to find Aiden, Halen, and the elderly driver unconscious and trapped. It was the kind of tragic scene no family or friend should ever face.
Aiden’s mother first heard something was wrong not from a phone call, but from an alert sent to her daughter’s Apple Watch, signaling a crash. She called and called, but no one picked up. She felt the dread settle in even before she knew for certain.
By Friday, the halls of Pinconning High School, where Aiden had just walked with his cap and gown, were heavy with sorrow. Empty desks and the hush of disbelief replaced the usual chatter. Friends tried to understand how such a vibrant life could be cut so short.
Superintendent Andy Kowalczyk fought back tears as he spoke of Aiden. “He was the kind of student you wanted in your classroom—respectful, kind,” he said quietly. “It’s so hard to process.”
Counselors and crisis teams were at the school first thing Friday morning to support students and staff as they began to navigate the shock and grief. But the question that kept echoing was: How can someone so full of life be gone in an instant?
Aiden had been excited about joining the trades. He loved archery and had a natural warmth and curiosity that made him easy to like. Just days before the crash, he was talking to his cousin’s husband about career plans. “He was asking questions, wanting to work hard,” recalled his cousin, Monica Rabie.
Now, instead of celebrating his graduation, the family is preparing for his funeral. “His graduation party is going to be his funeral,” Rabie said through tears. “It’s just so heartbreaking.”
Halen, still in the hospital, doesn’t even know yet that her brother didn’t make it. She doesn’t know about Moose, either. Her family is holding onto that news, waiting for a moment that may never feel right.
The community, reeling from the loss, has rallied around the family. A GoFundMe page has been launched to help cover funeral expenses and support Halen’s recovery. Donations and messages of support have come flooding in.
“Aiden was taken to heaven and Halen is fighting for her life with many surgeries ahead,” the fundraiser page says. “The family is shattered. We’re hoping to raise funds for whatever they might need right now.”
Aiden’s funeral is set for Thursday, June 12, at The Snow Funeral Home in Saginaw, with visitation the day before. He will be cremated, as the family wishes.
As people struggle to understand the sudden void left by Aiden’s death, they remember his easy smile and how he could light up a room without even trying. “He was just a goofy, good kid,” Rabie said. “He had so many dreams.”
But those dreams have been cut short. Now, instead of planning for his future, loved ones are left grappling with the quiet in the halls, the empty seat at the dinner table, and the summer that will never come.
At Pinconning High, Superintendent Kowalczyk and his team are urging students to talk to someone if they need help. They know that the pain of this tragedy won’t be easy to heal—but neither will the memories of the bright, kind student they lost.
Because some lives, even when cut short, leave an imprint that lasts far beyond their years.
As Halen fights to recover, the entire community stands with her, holding its breath—united in grief, love, and the deafening silence of loss.
