Families will 'never get over the loss' of Cape Henlopen High students killed in crash

The two victims of a fatal car crash in Lewes on Monday night have been identified by their parents as 16-year-old Ryan Andrew and 15-year-old Elijah Ghabour, both Cape Henlopen High School students.

The boys were in a BMW 328 traveling "at an apparent high rate of speed" and approaching a sharp curve on Gills Neck Road, when, "for reasons under investigation," the car exited the road, Delaware State Police said in a news release. The vehicle struck a pillar, a tree and a metal fence and became engulfed in fire, the flames of which spread to a nearby home, police said.

The people in the house were able to get out safely, but Andrew and Ghabour were pronounced dead at the scene. Delaware State Police continue to wait for identifications from the medical examiners' office before announcing the boys' names, a spokesperson said.

Devastated families

"We are living a parent's worse night(mare) and will never get over the loss of him," Ghabour's father, Eddie Ghabour, said via email. "Elijah had a smile that would light a room up. Anyone that saw him would say it. He was (an) extremely caring and loving kid with a huge heart."

Elijah Ghabour, a rising sophomore, played football and lacrosse at Cape Henlopen High School. His father called lacrosse his "true love." He was so excited to be on Cape's varsity lacrosse team as a freshman, his father said, and dreamt of playing for the University of Delaware. Elijah Ghabour also loved hunting and fishing.

"He fished almost every day in the summer with his friends and in the fall/winter he loved to deer hunt," Eddie Ghabour said.

Elijah's mother is Lauren Ghabour, and he had a brother, also named Eddie.

Andrew's mother, Laura Andrew, said his smile and laugh were infectious.

"This kid lived life to the fullest," she said. The outpouring of the support from the community has been "amazing," she added.

Alison Houck, Andrew's stepmother, said he was a light-hearted kid who loved life.

"He was a very kind soul. He loved to spend time with his grandparents and step-grandparents," she said. "He was a lover, a cuddler. Everybody adored him."

Andrew, a rising junior, played lacrosse in addition to multiple other sports. He sometimes talked about going to Penn State like his father, Houck said. He and his sister, 18-year-old Ashlyn Andrew, and his stepbrother, 18-year-old Eddie Houck, were always together, his stepmother said. They all had bedrooms on the second floor of the family's home.

"It always warmed our hearts when we could hear them up there laughing," Houck said.

Andrew's father is Tim Andrew. Both the Andrews and the Ghabours live in Lewes.

Photos: Salesianum and Cape Henlopen battle for boys lacrosse state title

Community impact

On Tuesday afternoon, Cape Henlopen School District Assistant Superintendent Jenny Nauman sent a message to families.

"The district is deeply saddened to learn of the deaths of two of our high school students as the result of a tragic accident that occurred last evening," she said. "We are extending our heartfelt sympathy to all involved, and specifically to the students' families and friends."

In a show of support on social media, many have changed their profile photos to two simple hearts in Cape blue and yellow and featuring the boys' lacrosse numbers: 23 and 2.

This isn't the first time the Cape community has been deeply affected by a car crash on Gills Neck Road.

In September 2006, 19-year-old Amanda Haxton, a former Cape athlete, was partially paralyzed in a crash on Gills Neck Road. She died less than two years later.

Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Families will 'never get over the loss' of Cape Henlopen High students killed in crash