The small borough of Etters, Pennsylvania is in mourning after the loss of 27‑year‑old William Cowell, a lifelong resident whose gentle spirit made a big difference to those around him. On Wednesday night, around 10:30 p.m., William’s 2019 Volkswagen Jetta was involved in a three‑vehicle crash on the 3100 block of Lewisberry Road in Newberry Township, York County, in which he lost his life and a 25‑year‑old woman remains hospitalized with serious injuries.
According to the preliminary investigation, William attempted to pass another vehicle when his Jetta collided head‑on with a 2018 Nissan Altima driven by the 25‑year‑old woman of Newberry Township. The Altima driver was transported to hospital in critical but stable condition; occupants of a third vehicle in the crash escaped injury. William was pronounced dead at the scene.
For friends and neighbors, the news of his death has come as a brutal shock. They describe William as someone who always had time for a kind word or a smile, whose caring and warm‑hearted nature made him a friend to many. He attended Red Land High School and later worked in roles including assistant store‑manager at Turkey Hill Minit Markets and as a manager at AMC in Mechanicsburg.
In the hours since the crash, social media in Etters and the broader region has flooded with messages of support, condolences and shared memories of William’s compassion and generosity. The tight‑knit nature of the community means his absence is already deeply felt, and the size of that void is weighing heavily on all who knew him.
As the investigation into the crash continues, the local authorities have not released additional details beyond the basic facts, citing the active nature of the case. The precise sequence of events, speeds, and other contributing factors remain under review by the Newberry Township Police Department.
In coming days, William’s family, friends and community members will gather to remember his life, share stories of times he touched others, and hold each other up during a time of grief. The legacy he leaves behind—one of warmth, kindness and quiet service to others—is already being honored in the hearts of those who knew him best.
Though this has been a moment of tragic loss, it has also highlighted the way a small‐town community comes together—raising each other up, sharing in sorrow, and affirming how fleeting and precious life truly is. William’s memory will undoubtedly endure in the minds of his family, his friends, and his neighbors in Etters.