University of Maryland Eastern Shore Mourns Loss of Two First-Year Students in Fatal Car Accident
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) community is grieving an unimaginable tragedy following the deaths of two first-year students who lost their lives in a fatal single-car accident on Wednesday night in Snow Hill, Maryland.
The victims have been identified as Luke Jason Hawthorne, 18, of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, and Munir Loyan Morris, 18, of Capitol Heights, Maryland. Both young men were aviation science majors who had only just begun their journey at UMES, full of promise and potential.
In an official statement, President Heidi M. Anderson expressed the depth of sorrow felt across campus, acknowledging the pain of losing students so early in their college lives. “This loss is heartbreaking,” she wrote. “Luke and Munir had only just joined our Hawk family, full of hope and potential. It is painful to think of the lives they would have led, the contributions they would have made, and the friendships they would have formed within our community.”
To honor the memory of the two students and allow time for reflection, UMES announced that classes will be canceled for a Day of Healing. The president emphasized that this moment is an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to reflect, mourn, and begin processing the devastating loss together as a community.
Recognizing the emotional toll of this tragedy, the university has mobilized counseling services and additional resources to ensure support is available. Services include:
-
Counseling Services at 410-651-6449, available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
-
In-person support at the Student Service Center (SSC), Multipurpose Room 2149, open today from 1–5 p.m.
-
Mental Health Electronic Referral Form for those needing confidential help
-
24-Hour Crisis Line at 410-651-HELP (4357)
President Anderson urged all members of the UMES community to seek support if needed and reminded students, faculty, and staff that these resources exist to help them through this painful time. “Please do not hesitate to use them,” she encouraged.
In closing, she called for unity, compassion, and mindfulness in the days ahead. “Let us be especially mindful of one another. Show grace, offer kindness, and take care of yourselves and each other as we navigate this sorrow together,” she wrote, signing the message with “In shared grief and Hawk pride.”
The loss of Luke Jason Hawthorne and Munir Loyan Morris has left a profound void at UMES, a historically Black university with a close-knit campus community. As the Hawk family comes together in remembrance, both students are being honored not only for the lives they lived but also for the bright futures that were tragically cut short.