NEWARK, Delaware (WPVI) — A woman died after a car crashed into a tree in New Castle County over the weekend.

Now, the family of 46-year-old Catherine Spanos is mourning a tragic loss.

“I lost part of my soul,” said Christine Spanos. “She’s not here no more, and I’m going to be empty on that part.”

Christine said life would never be the same without her other half – her identical twin sister, Catherine.

“I was still in shock,” said Christine. “I lost my mom at a young age so hearing this with my sister, it’s like this is all over again. It’s a dream.”

Newark police said the mother of 3 died after a truck traveling at a high rate of speed crashed into a tree in Rittenhouse Park earlySaturday morning.

When officers responded to the area for reports of an argument, they found Catherine in the back seat, and the driver had fled.

“Who does that? I was so angry,” said Christine. “Why would you leave? I don’t get it.”

On Monday, police announced they identified the male driver.

The Spanos family said they don’t know him, but believe Catherine went to the creek in the park before the crash.

“I literally broke down at work and had to step away and recompose myself, and even now it still hasn’t hit me,” said Genesis Ortiz-Spanos, the victim’s son.

Ortiz-Spanos said they’re remembering her as the walking firework she once was, someone with an endless glow.

“My mom was a very happy person,” said Ortiz-Spanos. “She was a star in everyone’s eyes. You met her and you fell in love.”

“Loving, giving, supportive, funny, and full of life,” said Christine.

A life they say was taken too soon.

“I’d like her to know I still love her,” said Ortiz-Spanos.

“I’m always going to miss her, and I’m always going to be here,” said Christine. “I can’t wait to see her.”

Catherine’s service ison Friday.

Meanwhile, police are investigating. They say no charges have been filed at this time.

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This story was supported by a statehouse coverage grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Delaware students needing more mental health support could soon see it in their schools under legislation signed into law by Gov. John Carney on Wednesday.

The two new laws are aimed at providing more mental and behavioral health professionals in K–12 schools. Children and youth are experiencing soaring rates of anxiety, depression, trauma, loneliness and suicide, according to Inseparable, a national mental health advocacy group.

House Speaker Valerie Longhurst (D-Bear) sponsored the bills. She said she’s concerned about the youth suicide rate — suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth aged 10–14 in the U.S. and the third leading cause for those aged 15–24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Kids have been struggling with suicide and anxiety, ADHD, and we really didn’t have the staffing in our schools,” Longhurst said. “Delaware ranked at the bottom in the country for the amount of counselors and behavioral health professionals in the schools.”

Suicide rates are up in Delaware no matter the age. According to the Delaware Division of Forensic Science’s 2023 annual report, 145 people died by suicide last year, the highest number since before 2019. The Division of Forensic Sciences only has its most recent annual report on its website. The majority of suicides occurred with a firearm.

The first piece of legislation adds a full-time social worker or counselor to high schools at a ratio of one per 250 students, to be phased in over three years. It also establishes a ratio of 700 high school students per psychologist.

It’s the third consecutive measure by Longhurst to add more mental health support to public schools. She sponsored a bill signed into law in 2021 that put the ratio of elementary school students and counselors at 250 to one, as well as legislation in 2022 that created the same ratio in middle schools.

The other bill signed by Carney on Wednesday requires the Department of Health and Social Services to change the state’s Medicaid plan so it covers services in school-based health centers for all Medicaid-eligible students. The deadline to submit the state’s amended plan to the federal government for approval is Jan. 1, 2025.

Delaware State Police and the Division of Health Care Quality are investigating an assault at The Summit retirement community in North Star that left a resident critically injured on Tuesday.

Police said a resident in The Summit’s memory care unit attacked another resident, leaving them in critical condition. Officials said they could not provide any additional information, as the investigation is active and ongoing.

The Summit did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Delaware’s struggles to investigate nursing homes, assisted living facilities

The Division of Health Care Quality, which is involved in investigating Tuesday’s incident, has struggled for about a decade to investigate complaints – particularly for assisted living facilities, a Delaware Online/News Journal investigation found. 

Assisted living facilities have no federal oversight, which means it is up to states to serve as a watchdog. Oftentimes, complaints by residents and their families are the only tool Delawareans have to keep long-term care facilities accountable.

And due to staffing and funding issues, many of these complaints went uninvestigated for years.

As of February, the division had almost cleared its backlog in inspections of long-term care facilities.

MORE: Delaware struggles to investigate nursing homes, assisted living facilities. What to know

Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on X at @h_edelman.