Lorain Community Rallies to Support Families of Teen Crash Victims

Fundraisers and memorials organized to help cover funeral and burial expenses for 18-year-old Lucy Hopkins and 17-year-old Paige Williams.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 10:33am

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The Lorain community is coming together to support the families of two teenage girls, Lucy Hopkins and Paige Williams, who tragically died after their car plunged into Lake Erie last week. Community members are organizing fundraisers, including a benefit lunch and dinner, as well as memorial efforts to honor the victims and help cover funeral and burial expenses for their families.

Why it matters

The deaths of the two teens have left the Lorain community heartbroken, and the outpouring of support from neighbors, coworkers, and classmates demonstrates the deep impact Lucy and Paige had on those around them. The fundraisers aim to ease the financial burden on the grieving families during this difficult time.

The details

According to the report, the surviving 18-year-old man told police he was a passenger in the car when it crashed into Lake Erie. A growing makeshift memorial has been set up at the crash site, where people continue to leave flowers, candles, and other tributes. A benefit lunch and dinner is being held on Wednesday at UAW Local 2000 in Sheffield Village to support Lucy Hopkins' family, as her father Tyler Brickman is a union member. Additionally, students at EHOVE Career Center are honoring their former classmate Paige Williams by donating a portion of sales and gratuities from their student-run café, and a separate GoFundMe has been launched to support her family.

  • The car crash occurred last week.
  • The benefit lunch and dinner for Lucy Hopkins' family is being held on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
  • The student-run café at EHOVE Career Center is currently donating a portion of sales and gratuities to support Paige Williams' family.

The players

Lucy Hopkins

An 18-year-old girl who tragically died in the car crash.

Paige Williams

A 17-year-old girl who tragically died in the car crash.

Tyler Brickman

The father of Lucy Hopkins and a union member of Local 2192.

Nadine Plavsich

The co-chair of Lorain County Job and Family Services' union local, Local 2192.

EHOVE Career Center

A school that Paige Williams previously attended, where students are honoring her memory.

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What they’re saying

“We woke up Friday morning to the horrible news of the car crash and it was devastating.”

— Nadine Plavsich, Co-chair of Lorain County Job and Family Services' union local

“The members of Local 2192 were deeply saddened to hear about the tragic accident that happened in our community. But then to discover it was one of our own union brother's family was completely devastating. We knew as a union to come together as a family and help support them.”

— Nadine Plavsich, Co-chair of Lorain County Job and Family Services' union local

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the surviving 18-year-old man, who was a passenger in the car, to be released on bail.

The takeaway

The Lorain community's outpouring of support for the families of Lucy Hopkins and Paige Williams demonstrates the deep impact these two young lives had on their peers and neighbors. The fundraisers and memorials organized by the community, coworkers, and classmates aim to provide financial assistance and emotional comfort during this tragic time.