18 Year Old Monticello Man Killed in Wreck at County Line
October 21st, 2009 by Joe BurgessAn 18-year-old Monticello man was killed in a head-on collision between the Toyota pick-up he was driving and a truck from the Arkansas Highway & Transportation Dept., around 8 a.m. Tuesday morning.
According to Drew County Sheriff Mark Gober, 
Jake Casteel was traveling north on HWY 425 when he crossed the center line, and collided with the truck.
Witnesses at the scene believed Casteel may have fallen asleep before the collision.
Monticello Fire & Rescue responded, as did the Drew County Sheriff’s Dept., who diverted traffic through Rock Springs, until the roadway was cleared.
J.A. Goad removed Casteel’s vehicle from the scene, and AHTD removed their vehicle.
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I have known Jake since he was in the 5th grade. Jake and my son Justin has been friends all those years and Justin was living with Jake. Jake had stayed at my house alot and been on family trips with us so I had grown to love Jake like family. I had ask Jake if he Jesus as his Lord and savior and he said yes so Iknow he is in a better place and that helps with the pain. But I will always miss him. My prayers go out his family. Jake you will be missed!!
even though i did not know him but my dad knows his parents and we just want to keep him in our prayers….
Lord, I pray for comfort for the family, be with them Lord during this time.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Greg and his family. I am so sorry to hear of your loss.
Jake was a part of my choir program for four years.If he had a problem I was the first one he would call, or talk to at school.
Many people never took time to get to know him. He was just like most teenagers.
Those that think their children are so innocent are in denial. As a parent you are the last to know what is going on with your child until it is to late. I will not debate this issue with anyone. I know for a fact after working with students for thirty five years they have confided in me. Their opening line is Mr. Binns can I talk to you? my parents dont understand me, or they want listen, or it is their way or no way.
I take the time before class, during class after class and after school to listen to students. Many times these students are not even in my class. Why do I take the time to listen? One simple reason. I CARE! I have the expertise and the counseling skills to be able to communicate with these young people. Pastoring a church for thirty years and counseling along with many college hours in counseling,
The point I want to bring home is, Mrs. Teresa Casteel Echols is a good mother and Mr. Ron Echols has been a wonderful step father to Jake. He loved you both and his biological father. Dont even look back to say was there any thing that I could have done for Jake. NO! you did it and then some. Jake lived a good life and was looking for a way to overcome some some barriers in his life, and he was on that path. God saw fit to relieve him of some of his burdens so he took him home to rest from his labor.
I received the news of Jake’s death from a student’s text message. This tore me apart. I was shocked to here such information this way. I appeal to parents, this is not the way to tell your child of such horrible news, especially when they are at school. Suddenly there was one text after another. The classes were in despair. There was no way to keep control.
When we did not have texting, parents called the secretary, checked their children out of school and looked them in the eye and shared the bad news with them. If the child took it hard, you were there to console them, or to take them into your arms and reassure them everything would be alright.
What I saw today was students reading text after text from parents, and friends. The students had to console each other. Where were the parents? on the job maybe, or even at home.
THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO DELIVER SUCH NEWS. Even I had to check out of school from the devistating news from a text message.After reading a text, the young lady screamed out JAKE CASTEEL IS DEAD! There was a hush of silence, then the break down of students mourning the lost of a student.
An 8th grade student and other students took care of me as
if Iwere the student. My principals, Mr Jay Hughes and Mr. Kenny Pennington were right there by my side, and were so compassionate.
I only knew Jake for just the few weeks he was training with us at the Larrys in Sheridan for the new Monticello store. I did not know him as well as some of you, but by a first impression all of us at Larrys could tell that Jake was a great guy, and this morning when i got to work and heard the news we were all absolutely devistated!! I am so very truly sorry that this had to happen to him. and mine and everyone elses prayers at Larrys goes out to Jakes family. He will be truly missed by all of us
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of both people involved in this terrible tragedy.
greg and teresa and family,
you are in our prayers and thoughts
May God bless, and be with this blended family. Be assured God has and will continue too take of all your needs. Jake is in heaven now, he is at peace with himself, his heart is well. So, may God give all of his family a well heart, and know God will never put more on us then we can handle. When the pain gets you down, be sure and look up to the heavens and pray. May peace overcome you.
To the family,friends and community.
I was sadden to hear the news about Jake.
I am not sure what to say but we are here for you.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Mr. Binns seems to know exactly what to say and how to say it.
Teresa and family,
Monticello’s community helped our family during the death of our son.
The love of kindness and prayers continue to pour.
We are so blessed to be apart of this community.
I can’t stress enough that faith and prayers are getting us through
the nightmare you experiencing.
Christ love and mine,
Tina
I only knew Jake for a short time , I loved him very much. He went on Church youth trips. I have known his Mom for a very long time. I am so sad. It happened not far from where I live. Teresa, I am praying for you and your family. Kim Wells
I will keep you all in my prayers. Only God can mend the heartbreak you are feeling right now. If I can do anything just let me know. I love you Laura Ashton hang in there girl, and pray hard.
I am sorry for this loss also. I do not know the family and did not know the young man but I am certainly praying for you during this time. I have lost people dear to me through such unexpected tragedies and those are hard. Mr. Binns, I heard about your sorrow yesterday from Caleb Lamb, my son. He was very concerned about you and I agree that text messaging is not the way to go with this kind of news. I’ll keep you in my prayers too.
Callie Jo I am so sorry to hear about your brother. Your family will be in my heart and prayers. I have a son named Jake and as a mom it really hits hard. Be as strong as you can be for your mom and dad always know you have the LOVE of all your friends and family behind you.
LOVE, The Cruce Family
My heart truly goes out to Teresa, Greg, Callie Jo and Laura Ashton. Watching each of the girls grow up and then finally the baby boy. At the baby sitter, Jake was the apple of all the kids there. Jake was Laura Ashton and Katie’s baby. Our connection with each of them in our live holds many memories. To be a survivor of this type wreck, I still will not ever understand, but to have one as young as Jake be taken is unbelievable. We must keep this whole family in our prayers and know that Jake is in good hands. All our love, Robin and Kenny Johnson, Mandy Rochelle and Katie Davis Green
My thoughts and prayers are with Jake’s family….May God give you great comfort and strength during your time of great sorrow. May God Bless each of you.
It really hurt me when i received a text message saying that jake had passed. There was a cold chill that went over my body. I took a deep breath and said a little prayer. The lord took jake out of our lives for a reason. The lord now has work for jake to tend to. and Jake is now in a better place. He was a very encouraging,funny,happy,and loving classmate i remember when jake used to call me “Q” all the time. I will miss you Jake. But my prayers, go out to his family. Mrs Teresa its okay your son is a better place and he is all right the lord will take good care of him the same way you did.
I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU JAKE!!!!!!!!!!!
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Casteel family. I pray that God will comfort you all during this time. The Hillis FAmily
Molly and I are so sad to hear such terrible news. Teresa, Greg, Paddy, Ms. Joanne, Callie and Laura Ashton may love surround you and help you through this difficult time. Molly and I will always remember how spirited and wonderful Jake was when we knew him as a little boy.
Cant believe your gone from us…but u will always be in our hearts, we love and miss u Jake!!
May God be with your family at this time.
WE ALL LOVE YOU BUT I HARDLY KNEW YOU!!!
wow i just can’t believe he’s gone he really made an impact on my life and help me overcome many hard situations ill never forget the good time that made us laugh its so hard to say goodbye but i know he’s in a better place now he will always be missed and loved
my brother was really close to jake and my prayers are with the family may god strech his hand over the family and get them threw the tough times!
My Grandmother lost three children in thier early twenties. My Mother and two sons. Must be the hardest thing a parent can face.
She was a Christian, her faith got her and my Granfather through
the pain and left them changed. No longer did material things matter, only appreciation for the family left and love for all people.
I pray for comfort for Jake’s family.
let god be with you treasa and i will be praying for you