Chase Cole Obituary– Some news hits you differently. Not because you knew the person personally, but because you recognize something in them. A familiar stretch of road. A familiar age. A familiar sense of a life just beginning to open up.
Chase Cole was 25 years old. He loved fishing on the Jupiter Inlet. He could rebuild a car engine from scratch. He texted his best friend about the tide schedule on the very morning he died.
On Sunday, April 26, 2026, Chase Harris Cole of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Pratt Whitney Road in Jupiter. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:46 p.m. He was 25 years old.
This is his story.
Who Was Chase Cole? The Young Man Behind the Headlines
It would be easy to reduce Chase Cole to a crash report. A name. An age. A road. But anyone who knew him will tell you that he was so much more than that — and he deserves to be remembered as more.
A Palm Beach Gardens Native Through and Through
Chase Harris Cole was born on March 14, 2001, in West Palm Beach, Florida. He grew up in Palm Beach Gardens, attending Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary, Watson B. Duncan Middle School, and eventually graduating from William T. Dwyer High School in 2019. Palm Beach Gardens wasn’t just where he lived — it was the place that shaped him.
He ran track in high school. The 400-meter. The 800-meter. Not because anyone pushed him, but because he had that rare kind of inner drive that makes a person stay late at practice and still ask to run one more lap. His coach remembered him as someone who “never complained” — a kid who ran until it hurt and then kept running.
After graduation, Chase enrolled at Palm Beach State College, where he studied automotive technology. It wasn’t a random choice. His grandfather, Harold E. Cole, had been a mechanic his whole life, and something about that passed down through the family — a love for engines, for the logic of machines, for the satisfaction of making something broken work again. By the time Chase finished his studies, he’d landed a job as a service technician at Palm Beach Imports, a European auto repair shop in Jupiter. His boss described him as the most dedicated young mechanic he’d ever hired. Twenty-five years old, and the other guys already looked up to him.
A Passion for Engines, the Open Water, and the People He Loved
Chase’s life outside of work was full, too. He was an avid fisherman — the kind who actually knows the tide schedules and plans around them. He and his best friend, Kyle Simmons, had been fishing together since middle school, spending weekends on the Jupiter Inlet casting for snook and tarpon. Kyle said Chase had texted him the morning he died, talking about the tide schedule for the following Saturday. That text is still sitting in Kyle’s phone, unanswered.
Chase had a girlfriend, Madison Torres, 24, a nursing student at Florida Atlantic University. She wrote on social media that he was supposed to pick her up at 10. When he didn’t show, she knew something was wrong.
He was someone who showed up. That, more than anything, is what people keep saying about Chase Cole. He showed up for his friends. He showed up early for work. He showed up for the people he loved. And then one dark Sunday night on Pratt Whitney Road, the road curved — and he couldn’t.
What Happened on Pratt Whitney Road the Night of April 26, 2026
The Crash – A Timeline of Events
Here’s what we know, based on information from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue:
- 9:32 p.m. — Chase Cole is driving westbound in his 2025 Volkswagen Jetta in the 1500 block of Pratt Whitney Road. As the road curves to the right, his vehicle continues straight.
- 9:32 p.m. (seconds later) — The Jetta leaves the roadway, travels across the grassy shoulder, and strikes multiple trees. The impact is described as catastrophic. No other vehicles are involved.
- 9:46 p.m. — Palm Beach County Fire Rescue arrives and pronounces Chase Cole deceased at the scene. He was wearing his seatbelt. It wasn’t enough.
The whole sequence — from the moment the car left the road to the moment Chase was pronounced dead — took less than 15 minutes. That’s how fast a life can change. That’s how fast it can end.
Why That Stretch of Road Is So Unforgiving After Dark
Pratt Whitney Road in Jupiter isn’t a highway. It’s a two-lane local road that runs through a mixed landscape of light industrial buildings, scrubland, and clusters of palm trees. During the day, it’s unremarkable. At night, it’s a different story.
The stretch near the 1500 block has limited street lighting. The curve that Chase didn’t make is marked only by reflective posts and standard road striping — nothing that would grab your attention if your focus drifted for even a second. There’s no guardrail. No barrier between the pavement and the trees.
Some residents who live nearby have already started talking about this. In the days since the crash, an online petition calling for improved lighting and safety barriers along that section of Pratt Whitney Road gathered over 1,200 signatures within a single day. People in the community are asking the same question: could better infrastructure have saved Chase’s life? That’s a question worth asking, even if the answer comes too late for him.
What Investigators Have Found So Far
Alcohol and Drugs Ruled Out – So What’s Being Explored?
One of the first things people ask when they hear about a fatal single-vehicle crash involving a 25-year-old is whether alcohol or drugs were involved. In this case, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has been clear: impairment is not believed to be a factor. No open containers were found. No odors were detected. Toxicology results are still pending — that’s standard procedure in any fatal accident — but nothing at the scene pointed toward intoxication.
So what happened? Investigators are exploring several possibilities:
- Speed — Was Chase driving too fast for the curve? Pratt Whitney Road carries a 35 mph speed limit in that area. Analysts are examining the vehicle’s event data recorder — often called the car’s “black box” — to determine how fast he was going at the time of impact.
- Distraction — A split second of distraction is all it takes to miss a nighttime curve. Cell phone records are being reviewed as part of the standard investigative process.
- Mechanical failure — Could a sudden tire blowout or brake failure have made it impossible to steer? The Jetta has been impounded for a full forensic mechanical inspection.
- A medical event — It’s rare but not unheard of: a sudden seizure, a cardiac episode, a momentary loss of consciousness. An autopsy has been scheduled to explore this angle.
- Road conditions — Low visibility, poor lighting, the sudden nature of the curve at night. The road itself is being examined.
There are no villains in this story. There’s just a young man who didn’t come home, and a community trying to make sense of why.
What a PBSO Traffic Homicide Investigation Actually Involves
The name “Traffic Homicide Investigation” sounds alarming if you’re not familiar with it, but it doesn’t mean anyone is being charged with homicide. In Florida, this is the standard unit that investigates any fatal traffic crash — it’s about thoroughness, not accusation.
These investigators gather scene measurements, review any available surveillance footage from nearby businesses, analyze vehicle data, interview anyone who may have witnessed the crash or had contact with Chase that evening, and wait for toxicology and mechanical inspection results. A complete report typically takes several weeks to finalize. The family and public will be notified as the investigation progresses.
A Community United in Grief – Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter Respond
The Memorial That Grew Overnight at the Crash Site
By Monday morning, the trees on Pratt Whitney Road that Chase struck had become something else entirely. Someone had placed a handmade wooden cross near them, painted with the words “Chase Cole – Forever 25.” Flowers appeared. A framed photograph of Chase holding a fishing rod. A can of his favorite energy drink.
A neighbor who lives nearby and heard the crash that night said she didn’t know who it was at first. She just heard a deep, heavy bang and went outside. Then the sirens came. She said she prayed for whoever it was. She didn’t know it was someone so young.
That’s what grief looks like in a community like this. You don’t have to have known Chase Cole personally to feel the weight of losing him. You just have to live here. You just have to pass that curve on Pratt Whitney Road and understand what it means.
How Friends, Coworkers, and Neighbors Are Remembering Chase
Tributes have poured in across social media since the news broke Monday. Friends from William T. Dwyer High School, regulars at Palm Beach Imports, fellow fishing enthusiasts from around the Jupiter Inlet — all of them sharing stories of a young man who made people feel genuinely glad to know him.
His best friend can barely talk about it. His boss says the shop hasn’t been the same since Monday morning. His girlfriend posted a tribute that broke the hearts of everyone who read it. That’s not the footprint of someone who was just passing through. That’s the footprint of someone who was deeply woven into the lives of the people around him.
Funeral Arrangements and How to Pay Your Respects
Service Details, Location, and What to Expect
Aycock-Riverside Funeral Home, located at 1112 Military Trail in Jupiter, FL 33458, is handling all arrangements for Chase Cole.
Here’s what’s been confirmed:
- Public Visitation: Friday, May 1, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Aycock-Riverside Funeral Home
- Funeral Service: Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Christ Fellowship Church, 5343 Northlake Blvd, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418, with Pastor David R. Ortega officiating
- Interment: Following the service at Riverside Memorial Park in Tequesta
- Celebration of Life: Sunday, May 3, 2026, organized by Chase’s friends near the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse area — details to be shared via social media
Anyone who wants to attend the visitation or service is welcome. The family has asked for compassion and patience as they navigate this loss publicly while still processing it privately.
How to Support the Cole Family During This Time
If you’d like to do something meaningful to honor Chase’s memory, the Cole family has made a specific request: in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jupiter Inlet Fishing Foundation, a nonprofit that supports youth fishing programs in the area. It was a cause close to Chase’s heart, and it’s a way to ensure that something he loved continues to grow in his name.
If you knew Chase personally and are struggling with grief, please don’t navigate that alone. Grief support is available locally. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Victim Services Unit offers counseling referrals. Florida’s crisis support line can be reached by calling or texting 988.
Honoring Chase Cole’s Legacy Beyond the Funeral
Donations, Road Safety Advocacy, and Keeping His Memory Alive
Chase Cole’s death leaves behind more than grief. It leaves behind a question that this community deserves to wrestle with honestly: are roads like Pratt Whitney Road safe enough at night?
More than 1,200 people already think the answer is no. The petition for improved lighting and safety barriers is still growing. If you live in Palm Beach County, you can contact the Palm Beach County Traffic Engineering Division or reach out to your local county commissioner to add your voice to those calling for change. Honoring someone’s memory doesn’t always mean attending a funeral — sometimes it means making sure no one else has to.
Chase Cole was 25 years old. He studied the tides. He rebuilt engines. He made people feel seen.
He deserved more time on this earth. We can’t give him that back. But we can remember him, support his family, and do what we can to make sure the road that took him gets a little safer for everyone else who drives it after dark.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chase Cole’s Death
How did Chase Cole die? Chase Cole died on Sunday, April 26, 2026, in a single-vehicle crash on Pratt Whitney Road in Jupiter, Florida. His 2025 Volkswagen Jetta failed to negotiate a right-hand curve and struck multiple trees. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:46 p.m.
How old was Chase Cole? Chase Cole was 25 years old at the time of his death. He was born on March 14, 2001, in West Palm Beach, Florida, and lived in Palm Beach Gardens.
Was alcohol or drugs involved in the crash? Based on preliminary findings from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, impairment from alcohol or drugs is not believed to be a factor. Toxicology results are still pending, as is standard in any fatal crash investigation.
Who is investigating Chase Cole’s death? The PBSO Traffic Homicide Unit is leading the investigation. Investigator Juan Pinzon of the PBSO Traffic Division is handling the case. A complete report is expected in several weeks after all forensic and toxicological evidence is reviewed.
Where is Chase Cole’s funeral? A public visitation is scheduled for Friday, May 1, 2026, at Aycock-Riverside Funeral Home in Jupiter, FL. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Christ Fellowship Church in Palm Beach Gardens, followed by interment at Riverside Memorial Park in Tequesta.
How can I donate in Chase Cole’s memory? The Cole family has requested donations be made to the Jupiter Inlet Fishing Foundation in lieu of flowers, a youth fishing nonprofit that aligned with Chase’s passion for the sport.
What is Pratt Whitney Road, and why is it dangerous at night? Pratt Whitney Road is a two-lane local road in Jupiter, Florida. The stretch near the 1500 block has limited street lighting and a curve that offers little visual warning at night. Many community members are now calling for improved infrastructure along this section of road following Chase’s death.
How can I send condolences to Chase Cole’s family? You can attend the public visitation on May 1 at Aycock-Riverside Funeral Home, reach out through the funeral home directly, or share a tribute on social media using Chase’s name. The family has also asked for privacy as they grieve and has requested donations to the Jupiter Inlet Fishing Foundation as the most meaningful way to honor his memory.