WILMINGTON, Del. – A tragic after-school crash Thursday near New Castle, Delaware, between a school bus of elementary students and a car full of high school girls left a 16-year-old dead and three other students injured.

Around 3:40 p.m. a school bus loaded with 22 students from Eisenberg Elementary School struck a car containing four 16-year-old girls from William Penn High School, according to police and Colonial School district officials.

The 16-year-old driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene. The other three girls were taken to the hospital. One was in serious condition Thursday night and the other two were stable, police said.

Colonial School District officials identified the driver as Jordan Tate, a junior at William Penn and a member of the ROTC.

Students on the bus were shaken but physically unharmed. Two 10-year old boys were taken to a hospital out of precaution but were released to their parents, according to Colonial officials.

“This is a heartbreaking time for all of us in Colonial Nation. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the families involved,” superintendent Dusty Blakey said.

Counselors and crisis teams will be on hand at schools Friday to assist students who wish to speak to them or appear to have difficulty dealing with the tragic news, school officials said.

Memorial Drive between North DuPont Highway and New Castle Avenue remained closed late Thursday while police investigated the crash.

"This is a horrific series of events," said New Castle County Police spokesman Master Cpl. Michel Eckerd.

Police asked anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact them.

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