16-Year-Old High Schooler Jade North and Her 77-Year-Old Grandma Die While Traveling Together - Details

In the days following the loss of Jade and Diedre North, family members and neighbors have turned their grief into a push for changes at the rural intersection where the crash occurred.

A teenage girl and her grandmother died on a Saturday afternoon after their SUV collided with a pickup truck at a Jupiter Farms intersection, authorities said.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office reported that Diedre North, 77, and Jade North, 16, both of Jupiter Farms, Florida, were traveling west on Alexander Run in a 2015 Ford Escape at about 4:38 p.m. on August 2, 2025.

As they approached the intersection with Randolph Siding Road, deputies said Diedre failed to stop at the stop sign and entered the path of a 2019 Ford F250 heading north. The pickup, driven by Logan Wolfe, 28, of Jupiter Farms, struck the driver's side of the Escape.

The impact rotated the SUV counterclockwise, sending it off the intersection and into a tree. Logan regained control of the pickup and stopped in the northbound lane of Randolph Siding Road.

Deputies said Diedre died at the scene, while Jade was pronounced dead about 6 p.m. at a local hospital. Logan sustained minor injuries. Authorities noted that all three people were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

On August 6, about 200 people gathered at the crash site for a sunset vigil honoring Diedre and Jade. The event included candles, prayers, and bouquets, many made of sunflowers. Teenagers who were friends with Jade wept and embraced one another, as neighbors and local first responders also attended.

Juanita North, who was also present at the vigil, described her daughter, Jade, as a talented youngster with a radiant smile and a goofy attitude. She mentioned that Jade often supported classmates at Jupiter High School who were bullied and walked them to class.

Jade, who would have started 11th grade next week, was best friends with her 19-year-old brother, Dristin, and close with her grandmother, who lived five houses away. The two enjoyed cooking and trying new recipes together. "Mimi was a great grandmother," Juanita shared. "She was always there when we needed her."

Juanita said she does not believe Diedre skipped the stop sign, noting her familiarity with the intersection after living in Jupiter Farms for 20 years.

She expressed a desire for the location to be converted into a four-way stop and for foliage blocking a nearby "stop ahead" caution light to be cleared, saying the vegetation is too thick for drivers to see it.

The family has called for safety changes at the intersection where the crash occurred. They believe the stop signs need to be more visible and placed on every corner. "It's mandatory. It's crucial," emphasized Juanita.

She said it is too late for her family, but hopes the tragedy could save someone else's life. "It's just so hard," she added. "And I'm never going to see [Jade] again."

A Palm Beach County spokesperson explained that decisions about four-way stops are based on traffic volume at the intersection. Still, they did not say if the county is considering new stop signs there.

During a video interview, Juanita revealed how she learned of the crash through an SOS alert on her phone that showed Jade's location at St. Mary's Medical Center. "My husband immediately drove down there, but unfortunately didn’t make it in time to see her," she recounted.

The heartbroken mother remembered her daughter in these words, "She's a great, great artist. She'd light up every room she walks in."

Jade's school has made counseling services available to students coping with the sudden loss. "Jupiter High School was kind enough to reach out," Juanita stated. "They will have counselors at school ready for any child that needs to talk."

In a message posted to social media, Juanita expressed her sorF11throw, writing that she misses her "darling angel" and will forever keep both Jade and Meme in her heart.

Brian North, Diedre's son, also shared his thoughts on losing his mom. "It just keeps coming at you, the waves of grief. It'll just keep coming."

Community members have organized fundraising efforts to assist the family. A GoFundMe page created by Brindin Sieff described the loss as "tragic" and "unforeseen." The campaign has raised $27,712 of its $35,000 goal so far to help cover funeral costs.

"Two wonderful people taken from this world; they will be missed, they are loved. Please show your love and support for the North family," read the description on the fundraising page.

Efforts to improve safety at the intersection have also gained momentum. A petition launched by Lena Agrusa on change.org called the crash "a wake-up call to prevent such tragedies from ever happening again."

The petition describes the area as increasingly dangerous due to higher traffic volumes, inadequate signage, and unclear right-of-way rules. It cites Federal Highway Administration statistics showing that four-way stops can reduce crashes by up to 45 percent.

With more than 1,300 verified signatures so far, the petition urges local authorities to install four-way stop signs at Randolph Siding Road and Alexander Run.

"The cost of installing these stop signs is minimal when weighed against the potential to save lives and avert more tragedies in our beloved neighborhood," wrote Lena on the petition's page.

The North family's loss has sparked community calls for change, with loved ones and neighbors urging officials to add a four-way stop at the intersection. Supporters hope the tragedy will lead to improved safety and prevent future accidents.