The Parkway Central community is mourning the loss of 18-year-old senior Olivia Bumbac, a standout lacrosse player and aspiring nurse whose life ended in a devastating crash on Interstate 64 in Town and Country, Missouri.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash happened just after 9 p.m. Sunday on westbound I-64 near Route 141. Authorities said a 2018 Audi S4 was traveling too fast for road conditions when the driver lost control.
The vehicle slid, overturned, and struck the median barrier before crossing into the eastbound lanes, where it collided with a 2019 Jeep Compass. The Audi then went off the roadway and hit an embankment.
Olivia was a passenger in the car. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries. The 17-year-old driver, also a Parkway Central student, remains in critical condition. No other serious injuries were reported.
Olivia had already completed her high school coursework at Parkway Central High School in Chesterfield and was taking general education classes at a local community college ahead of her planned graduation in May 2026.
Family members shared that she was preparing to take her certified nursing assistant exam in March, taking steady steps toward her dream of becoming a nurse.
Tarun Rana, a close family friend and attorney for the Bumbac family, said Olivia had mapped out her future carefully. She wanted to dedicate her life to caring for others in the healthcare field. “She had her whole future ahead of her,” he said, describing her as driven, compassionate, and focused.
Her commitment to helping others extended beyond career goals. Olivia was an organ donor, and her family was told her final gift could help save as many as 50 lives, a reflection of the generous spirit those closest to her say defined who she was.
On the field, Olivia wore jersey No. 50 as a goalie for the Parkway Central Varsity Lacrosse team. Teammates describe her as fearless in the net and encouraging off it.
She built strong bonds with her classmates, and many say she had a way of making people feel seen and valued.
Friends gathered this week at a student-led vigil at Parkway Central High School, lighting candles and sharing stories about her contagious laugh and welcoming personality.
One friend said Olivia could “make friends with anyone,” while another described her as the kind of person who would show up without hesitation if someone needed support.
School administrators made counselors and crisis team members available to students, acknowledging the deep impact of her loss across the campus.
As tributes poured in, a heartfelt social media post from family friend Cristian Soare captured the depth of the grief felt by those close to Olivia.
He wrote about the unimaginable pain of parents losing a child, saying that such tragedies often feel distant — until they strike close to home. “My heart is broken,” he shared, mourning the loss of the “smiling 18-year-old” who meant so much to so many.
He extended condolences to her father, Octavian Bumbac, along with Manu, Isabella, and the entire Bumbac family, calling Olivia “too young and too loved.”
In the days since the crash, classmates, teachers, and friends have leaned on one another. At the vigil, students spoke openly about the shock and disbelief they felt. Many encouraged each other to express love and appreciation more often, honoring Olivia by carrying forward the kindness she showed so freely.
As the Parkway Central community prepares for her funeral, memories of Olivia Bumbac — the dedicated student, the determined athlete, the future nurse, the loyal friend — remain at the forefront.
Her life, though far too short, left a lasting mark on her school, her teammates, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.
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