Maria Nunney Obituary, Death – The Cleveland education community is mourning the sudden and tragic loss of two beloved teachers who were killed in a fiery car crash while traveling with their children in North Carolina. According to the Cleveland Teachers Union and state authorities, Maria Nunney, 50, and her husband, Donald Nunney, 55, both long-serving educators in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), died after their family van veered off the highway and burst into flames.
The crash occurred Friday afternoon around 1:18 p.m. near Chapel Hill, at the intersection of Interstate 85 north and Interstate 40 east. State troopers reported that the family was on a trip from Cleveland to North Carolina to drop off their eldest son at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was beginning his college journey.
Maria Nunney, who was riding in the van as a passenger, died at the scene of the crash. Her husband, Donald, who was driving, was critically injured and airlifted to UNC Chapel Hill, but he later died from his injuries. The couple’s two youngest children, ages 14 and 9, were also seriously hurt in the crash. Both children are currently receiving treatment at Duke Hospital, where their conditions remain severe.
Investigators with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol explained that witnesses saw the family’s van suddenly veer off the road into a wooded area before colliding with a tree. The vehicle then caught fire, leaving bystanders and emergency crews rushing to the scene in an effort to save the family. Their oldest son, who had been driving in a separate vehicle, pulled over on the interstate after witnessing the accident unfold and immediately ran to be with his family as first responders worked.
The tragedy has deeply shaken the Cleveland school community. Shari Obrenski, President of the Cleveland Teachers Union, said the loss was almost impossible to comprehend as the district prepares to begin its new school year. She described the couple as dedicated educators, loving parents, and active community members whose absence will be felt profoundly. “They were just incredible teachers, loving and attentive and committed parents. Their loss has hit everyone so hard that it is unimaginable for their family and their children. So shocking and heartbreaking and just devastating,” Obrenski said.
Sgt. Tyler Tucker of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol told local media that the couple’s oldest son has been keeping vigil at the hospital, staying by the side of his injured siblings as they recover. “Their entire world has changed,” he said, underscoring the devastating impact of the crash on the family.
CMSD has announced that additional counselors and resources will be available to help students and staff cope with the tragic news as classes resume on Monday. Jon Benedict, the district’s Communications Officer, emphasized that out of respect for the Nunney family, the district would refrain from providing more details but offered condolences. “Our heart is with them at this very tragic moment,” he said.
The loss of Maria and Donald Nunney has left a gaping void in both their family and the Cleveland school system, with colleagues, students, and parents remembering the couple not only as dedicated teachers but as pillars of their community.
