Summit County medical examiner: Waynedale High student dies 3 days after a head-on crash

Deven "Deegan" Bee died Wednesday morning in Akron Children's Hospital, three days after he sustained serious injuries in a head-on car crash, the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office has confirmed.

The crash occurred around 10:30 a.m. Sunday in Medina County, said Sgt. Ray Santiago, a spokesperson for the Ohio Highway Patrol.

Bee, 16, was driving south in a 2007 Toyota Yaris when the vehicle veered left of the double yellow center lines to pass a vehicle ahead of him, Santiago said.

At the same time, 34-year-old Christine Seibel of Lodi was traveling north in a 2019 Ford Flex with her 5-year-old and 7-year-old children. Their vehicle was struck head-on by Bee's vehicle, he said.

Bee's vehicle caught fire after the collision, Santiago said, quickly spreading to Seibel's vehicle.

When troopers arrived, the vehicles were off the east side of the road with heavy front-end damage and fire damage, he said.

Funds being raised for Deegan Bee family

Crash: Waynedale High School golfer in critical condition after head-on crash. How you can help

Bee was driving home Sunday morning from a golf course when the accident occurred, his brother wrote on a GoFundMe page that had raised over $13,600 as of Wednesday afternoon.

He died from impact injuries to his head and body, according to the Medical Examiner's Office.

Seibel and her children were transported to an area hospital with serious injuries that were not life-threatening, Santiago said.

The crash investigation is ongoing.

Bee, a Waynedale student, was a top golfer who was entering his junior year of high school.

"Deegan was a phenomenal athlete who went to state in golf his sophomore year and was very competitive," said Waynedale High School Principal Richard Roth. "He was an excellent student ... a well-loved, joyful young man and brought a smile to your face."

Roth said he met Wednesday morning with Bee's coach and other coaches and members of the school district and "we talked about that today — the kind of joy he brought me and others. We greatly will miss him."

Community gathering planned Friday in honor of Deegan Bee

The Southeast Local School District "as a whole is very sad," Roth said, and has planned a gathering from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Fredericksburg Presbyterian Church to provide "an opportunity for everyone to come together."

Roth said Bee is from Fredericksburg, which is why the church at 201 North Mill St. was chosen.

Emails were sent Wednesday to parents and students from Waynedale High, John R. Lea Middle School and Fredericksburg Elementary — the three schools Bee attended — inviting the community to the church where school counselors, local pastors and an elder will be available.

Roth said the gathering is open to family, friends, neighbors, students and parents to share "good memories and positive thoughts." Poster boards will be provided to write messages. Water and snacks will be provided.

"Deegan was a beacon of light for Waynedale, always smiling and always competing," Roth wrote in an email announcing the gathering. "He will be terribly missed by all of us and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."

The Daily Record Editor Veronica Van Dress contributed to this story. 

Reach Bryce by email at bbuyakie@gannett.com

On Twitter: @Bryce_Buyakie

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Waynedale High School golfer dies three days after head-on car crash