Ohio Teaching Couple Killed in North Carolina Crash While Taking Son to College

Chapel Hill, North Carolina — August 18, 2025 — According to 12 On Your Side, a tragic accident claimed the lives of two Cleveland educators as they drove their oldest son to begin his first year of college, officials confirmed.

The Cleveland Teachers Union identified the victims as Maria and Donald Nunney, both longtime teachers with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. The crash occurred on Interstate 85 near Interstate 40 outside Chapel Hill.

Authorities said Maria, 50, who was riding in the family’s van, died at the scene. Donald was airlifted to a nearby hospital but passed away shortly afterward. Their two youngest children, ages 14 and 9, sustained serious injuries and were taken to Duke Hospital for treatment.

Investigators reported that the family was on the final leg of their drive from Cleveland to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where their oldest son was set to begin classes. Witnesses told troopers that the van veered off the interstate, struck a tree, and caught fire.

The couple’s eldest child, who had been traveling separately, stopped on the side of the highway as emergency responders worked to rescue his family. Sgt. Tyler Tucker of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the young man has since been keeping watch at his siblings’ hospital bedsides.

“Their entire world has changed,” Tucker said.

The news has deeply shaken the Cleveland school community. As the district began its first day of the academic year on Monday, grief counselors and support staff were made available to help students and educators cope with the loss.

“They were just incredible teachers, loving parents, and active members of the community,” said Shari Obrenski, president of the Cleveland Teachers Union. “Their passing is heartbreaking and devastating for their family, their children, and all of us who knew them.”

District spokesperson Jon Benedict added that additional resources are in place for students and staff in the wake of the tragedy. “Our hearts are with the family during this unimaginably difficult time,” he said.

The Ramsay Law Firm has attorneys who are Board Certified in Workers’ Compensation claims to help individuals with severe injuries and death claims.

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Notes: Our team created this post using secondary sources and has not independently verified all the facts surrounding the accident. If you find any incorrect details, please contact the Ramsay Law Firm so we can update the post with the most accurate information. This post will be removed if requested.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice and is not a solicitation for business. The photograph used in this post is not representative of this accident. If you are injured in an accident, seek medical attention immediately, then speak to a North Carolina personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.