UPDATE: Sandy Hill Elementary School teacher killed in crash on Route 50 in Hebron

5/16 UPDATE: Maryland State Police have released additional details regarding this crash.

We’re told the crash happened at around 7:30 a.m. in the area of Route 50 at Route 347 (North Main Street). Preliminary investigation revealed that a Kia K5 was traveling westbound on Route 50 at North Main Street when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle drifted to the left, partially entering a left turn lane, where a box truck was stopped. The Kia subsequently hit the box truck in the rear before traveling through the grassy center median, through the eastbound lanes of Route 50, and sideswiping a Mazda CX-4 before coming to rest in a field.

Cockey was pronounced dead at the scene.

Neither the box truck driver nor the driver of the Mazda were injured.

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HEBRON, Md. – A Cambridge-area elementary school is mourning the loss of one of their teachers who died in a serious crash.

23-year-old Elizabeth Cockey, of Salisbury, a teacher at Sandy Hill Elementary School in Cambridge, died in a serious crash on Route 50 on her way to work Wednesday morning in Hebron.

The tragic news was shared Wednesday afternoon via social media in a letter that was signed by the school’s principal, Deborah Gibson.

Principal Gibson shared how Miss Cockey was in her second year as special education teacher for kindergarten and 1st grade. She described her as engaged teacher that students and staff loved.

“Even if your child was not a student of Miss Cockey, they will probably know her as she was very engaged with the life of the school,” Gibson wrote. “A proud member of the Orange Hive, Miss Cockey was a high energy, friendly, lively young woman, and one of the coaches of Sandy Hill’s Cheer Team.”

The loss of Miss Cockey has devastated those close to Sandy Hill.

“She had a smile for everyone, and always found the positive in our kids,” Gibson wrote. “Miss Cockey loved everything Disney, loved life, and especially loved her students, and her loss leaves a big hole in the heart of Sandy Hill Elementary School.

Principal Gibson emphasized that the school has not made students aware of the loss yet, but that they plan to do so Thursday morning.

“This will also provide you with the first opportunity to share the news with your child to help them process the situation in a safe space,” Gibson stated. “We are bringing in extra counselors and social workers from other schools and partner organizations tomorrow and Friday to help our youngsters process the loss of Miss Cockey.”

School officials plan to start the day tomorrow with Class Circle discussions, an exercise that will allow both students and staff to share their feelings and support each other. They also encouraged parents and guardians to let them know if they feel their child requires any extra services.

“Without Miss Cockey, there will be a little less buzz in The Hive, but her legacy lives on in the children she taught and the lives she touched,” Principal Gibson concluded.

WMDT News has reached out to Maryland State Police for details concerning the crash and are awaiting a response.