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Promising Young Wrestler Dies in Tragic College Crash
29 Sep
Summary
- 18-year-old Aaliyah Martin killed in two-vehicle collision
- Aaliyah called for help from her smartwatch before dying
- Family and friends devastated by sudden loss of "bright light"
On September 13, 2022, 18-year-old Aaliyah Martin, a promising young wrestler, was killed in a two-vehicle collision near Montezuma, Iowa. Aaliyah had been a college freshman at William Penn University for just over three weeks when the tragic accident occurred.
Aaliyah was riding in the back of a Jeep Wrangler with her friend Sydney E. Andersen when the vehicle collided with another Jeep at an intersection. Despite Aaliyah's efforts to call for help from her smartwatch, she and Andersen were pronounced dead at the scene. The other two passengers were injured and transported to a nearby hospital.
Aaliyah's family, including her mother Shantell, father Kevin, and two siblings, are devastated by the sudden loss. Her aunt, Tasha Sanchez, describes Aaliyah as a "friend to everybody" with an "infectious" spirit. Aaliyah had secured an athletic scholarship to pursue her passion for wrestling, and she had already made new friends on campus.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Aaliyah's professors remembered her as a "bright light" who was eager to learn. Her family is now making plans to transport her body to Wyoming for a celebration of life on September 27, 2022. A GoFundMe page has been created to help with the funeral costs.
