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BELLEFONTE -- A one-vehicle accident claimed the life of a Pleasant Gap woman on Wednesday evening.
According to the Spring Township Police Department's Facebook page, the accident took place around 6:45 p.m. in the 400 block of Garbrick Road. Rachelle Edmiston, 34, of Pleasant Gap, was pronounced dead as a result of injuries she sustained in the crash.
Spring Township PD say that two individuals were transported from the crash scene to Mount Nittany Medical Center. Edmiston was pronounced dead there. Late Thursday afternoon, the police said that she was driving a 2016 blue Hyundai Sonata that impacted a tree. She died as a result of head trauma, police said. A male passenger, who was not identified, sustained minor injuries in the crash.
Edmiston was a 2005 graduate of Bellefonte Area High School. She was very active in the community and was outspoken about the school district's plans to change its nickname from Red Raiders to simply Raiders.
At a special school board meeting on April 28, Edmiston pre-recorded a speech because she knew she would get too emotional, she said the next day in an interview with The Express. Edmiston was in favor of keeping the nickname. A Native American, Edmiston was a Potawatomi Indian of the Pokagon Tribe.
"We stand each and every day full of pride, honor and tradition. Sound a little familiar? Native Americans are not just headdresses, face paint, arrowheads and spears," Edmiston said in her speech. "Where some may see signs of racism and derogatory symbols, we see culture, tradition, heritage and celebration. Each and every one of those are used in our celebrations of new life, death, the weather and so much more. They're used in our dance and even prayer."
Edmiston said that the Red Raider nickname was not at all offensive.
"When I look at Bellefonte and see Red Raiders and a chief in full headdress, I see more than a school name and logo. I see a part of me. My history. Who I am. Removing it feels as if this is a statement directly aimed at me and I know that's not the case, but maybe instead of being offended by the logo and a name it should be celebrated and we should find inspiration in it. This fight doesn't end here and it goes deeper than school mascots and names, but removing Native American representation from the here and now feels like we're saying what they went through and where they come from do not matter. I'm asking all that are eligible to vote in this matter to not vote lightly. This is a more than a school name and mascot for some, this is our history of who we are and where we come from and it shouldn't be eliminated or removed, it should be cherished," Edmiston said.
Throughout the night, nearly everyone who spoke in favor of keeping the nickname ended their speech with "I stand with Rachelle."
On Thursday, numerous tributes to Edmiston were posted on different social media pages.
Andrea Royer, who is running for Bellefonte school board on the "Win4Bellefonte" ticket, said that she met Edmiston through a Facebook group that was trying to keep the Bellefonte nickname.
"It's hard to believe … wrap your head around. She was so young and vibrant. It's just not fair. Her culture, history and ancestry was very important to her," Royer said. "I'm glad there's public record of that. She was happy she could share that."
The investigation is ongoing, police said. Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Spring Township PD at (814) 355-5134.