A week ago, Noah Nunney, 19 and a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, watched helplessly as his family’s van never arrived on campus. What followed was a descent into grief that would soon sweep away both of his parents—Donald Nunney, 55, and Maria Galindo Nunney, 50—beloved educators from Cleveland who died in a highway crash in Orange County, North Carolina, just hours after dropping him off for the semester.
In a rare and deeply heartfelt conversation, Noah shared his pain and purpose with PEOPLE, recounting the moment he first sensed something was terribly wrong—and the resilience he discovered in himself amid tragedy. His story, now unfolding in the halls of UNC and far beyond, is as much about heartbreak as it is about the enduring power of community and family.
When Silence Beats the Clock
On August 15, Noah checked his sister Lucia’s location on his phone—it hadn’t changed. East Carolina was about 37 minutes away when they were meant to arrive. “1:30 rolls around, no word,” he said. “I’m calling them, calling them.” A friend drove him to the listed coordinates; what he found was shattered stillness: a crashed van, silence, and then, devastation. Within hours, both parents were gone, and his two younger siblings, Lucia, 15, and Leo, 9, lay hospitalized with critical injuries. His father had suffered a heart attack behind the wheel, according to reports from PEOPLE and WKYC.
Holding on to Each Other
Standing at the hospital bedside, Noah confronted the gravity of his loss—and the enormity of his responsibility. “When you arrive, and you expect to see nobody alive, and you see two of your siblings are still here… that really brings a smile to my face,” he told WRAL, describing how their survival became his anchor.
Leo, who suffered multiple fractures, has since been taken off a ventilator and is speaking freely. Lucia—her brain bruised but recovering—is able to stand and converse, though she remains unaware of her parents’ fate.
A Legacy Honored, a Future Untold
Noah plans to take time off from school to care for his siblings—and to honor promises his parents made. “I know that’s what they would have wanted,” he said, indicating he fully intends to return and earn his degree. He clung to memories of that last meaningful moment with his parents, as they dropped him off for his first year of college, marking his emergence into adulthood.
In the background, a GoFundMe fundraiser created for the children has mobilized generosity: contributions have approached, and now exceeded, $300,000, reflecting how deeply the Nunneys were loved.
Their community in Ohio—students, colleagues, friends—has responded with grief counseling, memorial vigils, and tangible support. Family members have shared stories of the couple’s warmth and light: Donald’s quiet dedication in the classroom and Maria’s laughter-filled presence in every room she entered.
Why This Matters to Durham—and to Us
What happened to the Nunneys is not just a private tragedy—it’s a reminder of life’s fragility and the healing that follows when communities gather. At UNC, scholarship officers, fellow students, and staff arrived within hours to provide food, shelter, and emotional care for Noah—proof that he was never alone.
Here at the Bull City Citizen, we believe in covering stories like these—not to sensationalize loss, but to bear witness: to the resilience of a young man, the love of a grieving family, and the kindness of strangers that buoyed them. As we bring you updates on Noah and his siblings, our commitment is to do so with respect, context, and community at the heart of the story.
