MIHS to hold vigil for student who passed away in car accident
Published 10:30 am Thursday, March 19, 2026
The Mercer Island High School (MIHS) community is mourning the sudden passing of junior Rhys Madamba and will hold a candlelight vigil and time of remembrance from 6:30-7:30 p.m. tonight at the school amphitheater.
All are welcome to join the vigil and bring a photo of Madamba to share, according to a vigil announcement, which adds that the community gathering is “to honor, celebrate and grieve the passing of Rhys Madamba. Let us gather in light, love and remembrance.”
On Monday, MIHS Principal Nick Wold and members of his staff informed the community in a letter that Madamba was involved in a one-car accident on March 14 on Mercer Island, was transported to a local hospital and passed away early Monday morning.
“It is with extreme sadness that we share some heartbreaking news with our community,” the letter reads, adding that Madamba was surrounded by friends and family at the hospital.
According to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office decedents list on March 18, Madamba, 17, passed away from injuries caused in the accident.
The letter adds: “The Madamba family would like to express their gratitude to Rhys’s friends, his schoolmates, and the staff at Mercer Island High School for their support and sympathy following his unexpected passing. At this time, the family kindly asks that their privacy be respected while they grieve.
“Please keep Rhys’s family and friends in your thoughts during this profoundly difficult time as we navigate this loss together, and continue to show kindness to one another.”
Wold and his staff said the school is committed to ensuring that students receive support and assistance during the difficult time, noting that its two Mercer Island Youth and Family Services (MIYFS) counselors and school counselors are available to meet with students. MIYFS Administrator Derek Franklin offered additional counseling as needed.
Additional online and phone counseling resources are available, including the Crisis Connections 24-hour hotline at 1-866-427-4747; students can text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Text Line counselor; the Safe Crossings Foundation ; and students can use the Say Something reporting tool if they are concerned about a friend or classmate struggling with grief.
