Omaha Community Mourns Loss of 16-Year-Old Elise “Ellie” Cole in Tragic Car Accident
OMAHA, NE — The Omaha community is reeling from the heartbreaking and untimely death of Elise “Ellie” Cole, a vibrant 16-year-old high school sophomore who tragically lost her life in a devastating car accident on the evening of Monday, April 21, 2025. The news has sent waves of grief through her school, her family, and the wider community, leaving behind an unimaginable void and a town mourning the loss of a bright young soul.
A Tragic Evening
The accident occurred just after 7:30 p.m. near the intersection of 156th Street and Blondo Avenue, a busy stretch often used by families and commuters. According to the Omaha Police Department, Ellie was a passenger in a sedan that collided with an SUV at a high rate of speed. The collision was described as violent, and the impact caused significant damage to both vehicles.
Emergency crews arrived swiftly on the scene, but despite lifesaving efforts, Ellie Cole succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle she was riding in, another teenager, was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The occupants of the second vehicle were also hospitalized but are expected to recover.
Investigators are still working to determine the exact cause of the crash. Speed and driver inexperience are being examined as potential factors, though officials have not yet released a final report. No charges have been filed as of Tuesday afternoon.
Remembering Ellie
Ellie Cole was known for her warm smile, infectious laughter, and boundless energy. A sophomore at Westside High School, she was an honor roll student, a talented soccer player, and a beloved member of the school’s drama club. Her friends remember her as a light in their lives—always kind, always inclusive, and endlessly passionate about the people and activities she loved.
“She had this incredible way of making everyone feel seen and heard,” said her classmate and close friend, Julia Nguyen. “If you were having a bad day, Ellie would notice—and she’d do whatever she could to lift you up.”
Teachers and administrators echoed those sentiments. “Ellie was the kind of student every teacher hopes for—curious, engaged, respectful, and full of potential,” said Westside Principal Matt Hastings. “Our entire school is heartbroken.”
A Family Devastated
Ellie was the youngest of three children and leaves behind a family struggling to comprehend life without her. Her parents, Tracy and Mark Cole, described her as their “brightest star,” a daughter whose joy radiated in everything she did—from baking cookies with her mom to practicing soccer with her dad and siblings in the backyard.
In a public statement, the family wrote:
“Elise was our Ellie—sweet, stubborn, smart, and full of dreams. She loved fiercely, gave selflessly, and lived with a heart wide open. We are shattered by this loss, but we are also incredibly grateful for the sixteen wonderful years we had with her.”
Community Support and Memorial Plans
In the hours following the accident, a memorial of flowers, candles, photos, and handwritten notes began growing along the chain-link fence near the crash site. By Tuesday morning, dozens of classmates, neighbors, and community members had gathered there to grieve together, lighting candles and sharing stories about the young girl who touched so many lives.
Westside High School brought in grief counselors and therapists to help students and staff process the sudden loss. A vigil is planned for Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. on the school’s soccer field, where Ellie spent countless hours practicing and playing.
The school is also working with Ellie’s family to establish a scholarship fund in her name—The Elise “Ellie” Cole Memorial Scholarship—to support students who demonstrate leadership, creativity, and kindness, the very qualities Ellie embodied.
An Outpouring of Love
On social media, tributes have poured in from across Omaha and beyond. Friends have shared photos of Ellie smiling at school dances, scoring goals on the soccer field, and laughing with her siblings on family vacations.
“She was sunshine in human form,” one friend wrote. “I’ll never forget how she made everyone feel like they mattered.”
Community members who never knew Ellie personally have also expressed condolences, deeply moved by the tragic loss of such a young life.
A Life Remembered, A Legacy Honored
As the Cole family navigates this unthinkable grief, they are surrounded by a community eager to support them. A GoFundMe page has been established to assist with funeral expenses and support the family during this time. In just one day, the fundraiser surpassed its initial goal, a testament to the love and unity surrounding Ellie’s memory.
Final Thoughts
The pain of losing Elise “Ellie” Cole is one that Omaha will carry for a long time. She was a daughter, a sister, a friend, a student, an athlete, and a young woman with a future full of promise. Her sudden death is a painful reminder of life’s fragility—but also of how one life, lived with love and light, can impact so many others.
Ellie will be laid to rest in a private ceremony later this week, with a public celebration of life scheduled for Saturday at First United Methodist Church of Omaha, where she was an active member of the youth group.
As the community continues to mourn, many are holding onto Ellie’s spirit by vowing to live a little more like she did—with compassion, courage, and joy.
Rest in peace, Ellie. You will never be forgotten.