13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Carmel teacher killed in crash

Carmel teacher killed in crash

Steve Jefferson/Eyewitness News

(Please note: The time which counselors will be available at Carmel High School has been updated from earlier versions of this story.) 

Hamilton County - Carmel High School is mourning the loss of a teacher who died in an accident over the weekend.

Police say Gina Coleman of Noblesville died when she crashed her motorcycle into the back of an SUV Sunday near Bean Blossom in northern Brown County. Coleman, 43, was following the SUV on State Road 135 when traffic slowed to let a dog cross the road. Coleman was unable to stop in time and struck the SUV. The collision threw her from her motorcycle into a ditch. Her husband, Henry Coleman, who was following his wife on his motorcycle, was not injured.

"The two of us were on our motorcycles and went downhill," he said through an interpreter. "She used her brake and it locked up. The motorcycle went downhill on the road and impacted the back of the SUV and her body went flying through the air."

Both Gina Coleman and her husband were hearing impaired, but Gina never let it keep her from success. Her brother, Dave Tester, is also a teacher. He says he learned early on that Gina had what it takes to teach sign language, especially in a school setting.

"Students who struggled in the deaf school, she was just so patient with the students and would teach them," he said.

She taught at American Sign Language at Carmel High School for two years, teaching the same successes to her students. Prior to coming to Carmel, she taught in the Franklin Community school system for nine years.

The Colemans settled down in Indiana after getting married 16 years ago. Henry recalled his marriage proposal.

"I was a little bit shaky," he said. "I was trying to keep positive and hoping she wouldn't say no, and I said, 'Would you want to marry me?'"

Now, the entire family is shaken by her death, especially since she survived a previous crash while riding with her brother in Arizona.

"She slid into me and we wrecked and hit her head and had a head injury and had to be taken to the hospital also, but seemed to be okay," Tester said.

Henry Coleman held back tears talking about losing the love of his life. He knew immediately that this accident was more serious than the one she had in the past.

"I pulled over my motorcycle and I went over to my wife to try to comfort her. I knew right away it was a very, very serious thing," he said. "I knew right away that my wife was not going to make it due to a lot of head injury. I decided to stay with her. She breathed three for four times before she stopped."

But he says he knows his faith will help heal his broken heart.

"It's very hard for me to let her go," Coleman said.

Carmel High School will make counselors available to students on Wednesday, April 9th, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm in the high school's media center. Coleman taught American Sign Language at the high school.

"The Carmel family mourns the loss of Gina Coleman. Her death is such a tragic loss to our school. Mrs. Coleman was passionate about her subject, teaching students American Sign Language, and just as passionate about her students. She will be missed by all of us. Our thoughts and prayers will be with her family and her students as they struggle through this difficult time," said Carmel High School Principal John Williams in a statement released Tuesday.

Carmel Clay schools are on spring break this week, but Principal Williams said the school didn't want to wait until the end of vacation to offer assistance to students. Counselors will also be available when students return on April 14th.