Jordyn Bigham, 15, died in the crash while her 16-year-old sister, Jada, remained hospitalized with serious injuries.
MATTAWAN, Mich. — A southwest Michigan community is mourning 15-year-old Jordyn Bigham while supporting her older sister, Jada, who remained hospitalized after a crash that killed two Mattawan High School students and seriously injured three others.
Jordyn and Jada Bigham, 16, were among five Mattawan High School students inside a vehicle that left West R Avenue near South 2nd Street in Texas Township about 3:20 a.m. Sunday and struck a tree, according to the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office. Jordyn and another student died at the scene. Jada and two other students were hospitalized.
The sisters’ grandmother, Christina Norris, told News Channel 3 that Jordyn and Jada were rarely apart. She described them as inseparable and said they often went places together. The family was confronting two crises at once: grieving Jordyn while remaining focused on Jada’s treatment and recovery.
Norris said Monday that Jada had undergone surgery and was in stable but critical condition. She said the family was anticipating a full recovery but expected the process to be long. A fundraiser organized for the family said Jada faced additional medical treatment and ongoing care while relatives also prepared for Jordyn’s funeral.
The family’s ties to the community extended beyond school. Norris said both sisters had helped at Nena’s Cooper Cafe, the family restaurant, including serving free Thanksgiving meals. The restaurant closed temporarily after the crash as relatives turned their attention to the girls and the family’s immediate needs.
Support spread across Mattawan and surrounding Kalamazoo County. Community members organized vigils, meal assistance and fundraisers for families affected by the crash. A roadside memorial of flowers and balloons also grew near West R Avenue and South 2nd Street, where residents stopped to remember the students.
At a Monday vigil, residents stood together for an extended period of silence. Organizers described the gathering as a way for the community to share its grief even when words were difficult. Mattawan Consolidated Schools also acknowledged the impact of the crash after classes resumed Monday and kept its focus on the affected students and families.
The sheriff’s office said five Mattawan High School students were inside the vehicle when it left the roadway. A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old died, while the other three students were hospitalized. Authorities had not announced what caused the vehicle to leave the road, and the crash remained under investigation.
For Jordyn and Jada’s relatives, the investigation is unfolding alongside a much more personal period of mourning and recovery. Family members continued receiving community support as they prepared to remember Jordyn and remained with Jada during her treatment. No new official finding on the cause of the crash had been released by Wednesday.
Author note: Last updated October 21, 2026.