MADISON, Miss. (WJTV) – Students and staff at Madison-Ridgeland Academy (MRA) are devastated after the loss of one of their own.

On September 1, troopers said 18-year-old Robert Noah was in a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek traveling south on Highway 7 in Grenada County when his vehicle collided with a 2024 Jeep Wagoneer that was traveling north.

According to officials with the Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP), both vehicles caught fire. The passenger in the Jeep, 74-year-old Lizzie Tucker, of Texas, also died during the crash.

Noah was a student at MRA in Madison. Greg Self, associate Head of School at MRA, said he was in total shock after he heard about the crash.

“We did give our seniors the opportunity to be off campus today, if they wanted to, if they needed another day, because all of this happened over the holiday weekend, and they need more time to process down the road. We were doing more things throughout the Class of 2025. This is one of those holes that will stay with this class throughout this whole year. As we celebrate homecoming, as we have prom, as we have graduation,” he said.

Self said Noah was the leader of the student section at all athletic events. He said many students were impacted by Noah’s death.

“Robert has been with us for many years, just an absolutely great young man. Words that I keep hearing over and over again to describe him as genuinely kind. He was. I’m continuing to get stories from students and from teachers about how he went out of his way each day to to make the one who may be alone feel like they are known and loved,” Self said.