A 20-year-old woman from Columbia Borough has been identified as the victim of a crash early Thursday morning that sent two vehicles plunging into the Susquehanna River, leaving family and friends across Lancaster County searching for answers.
The Lancaster County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Saige Zink on Friday. An autopsy found that she died of freshwater drowning, and her death has been ruled accidental.
Crash Details Still Under Investigation
According to Manor Township police, the crash occurred around 2:25 a.m. Thursday along the 1900 block of Water Street. The coroner’s office was not notified until roughly 5:14 a.m., when the two vehicles were discovered overturned in about five feet of water.
Investigators say a white BMW SUV and a blue Chrysler sedan appeared to have been traveling at a high rate of speed before both cars went into the river. The exact cause of the crash has not yet been determined, and police continue to investigate.
Adding to the mystery surrounding the incident, authorities say surveillance footage captured three individuals walking away from the crash scene. Police are asking anyone with information about those individuals, or about the crash itself, to contact Manor Township police at 717-299-5231.
Family and Friends Remember Zink as a Bright Light
News of Zink’s death spread quickly across social media, where dozens of friends and relatives shared memories and condolences. Many described her as a warm, affectionate presence who touched the lives of those around her, with one family friend recalling how she used to make children smile during chance encounters at a local store.
Others expressed disbelief at the timing of the loss, noting that it came less than two years after another death in the same family. Several commenters also echoed the same unease raised by police, questioning why three people were seen leaving the scene and who exactly was involved.
To help ease the financial burden on the family, Zink’s mother, Amanda Rhoads of Middletown, has an active fundraiser online. As of Friday, the campaign had raised just over two thousand dollars toward a five thousand dollar goal, with dozens of people contributing. According to the fundraiser description, the money is intended to cover funeral expenses and other immediate needs as the family grieves.
Rhoads described her daughter as a beloved daughter and friend whose sudden death has left loved ones heartbroken, and said that support from the community would help ease some of the burden during an incredibly painful time.
No further details about potential charges or the identities of the three people seen leaving the scene have been released. This is a developing story, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.
