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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My heart goes out to Teresa and Greg and their daughters. Our prayers are with them for God’s comfort at this horrible time.
You will be missed :((
My prayers go out to the victims family!!! Jake will be missed and always loved!!!!
He Will Always Be In Our Hearts , We Love You Jake Dylan Casteel & I Think I Speak On Behalf Of The Whole Class Of 2009 .. He Always Knew How To Put A Smile On Each & Everyone Of Our Faces .. He Would Give The Shirt Off His Back For Anyone He Knew Needed It .. This Is A Reminder That Life Is Precious & We’re Not Promised Forever .. R.I.P Jake Dylan Casteel
I taught Jake and just visited with him this summer. He will be missed. Such a sweet and funny young man. My heart and prayers go out to his family. I know words will not heal your pain, but know that the whole community will be thinking about you and praying for you.
My heart goes out to Teresa and her family…I will be sending much love and prayer their way in this sorrowful time.
I wish I would’ve said more Saturday night Jake Dylan! If I only knew it was my last chance… God works in mysterious ways. Maybe He will bring us all home to ya’ll soon enough. R.I.P. Jake Dylan! we LOVE you!
Dennis and I will be praying for your family. May God send
his peace for you at this time. We are so very sorry Teresa.
My prayers go out to Teresa and her family. There is nothing more dear to a mother than her children and God is the only one who can truly console you at a time like this.
I am so sorry for the whole family. You are in our prayers. So sad.
OMG..You’ll be missed
Jake was a special young man to me. I taught him in the 8th grade he always had a hug for me and a “grin”. He will be missed by all who knew him. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and his friends.
my heart goes out to jakes family, in jakes senior year of school he road to school with our son c.j. some , after school several times he came to our house he was very polite, well mannered and had a quick witt, i enjoyed my time around him, he will be missed by all who were lucky enough to know him, with deepest sympathy, charlie becky and cj hammock
MAY GOD’S HAND HOLD THEM CLOSE AND COMFORT THEM. I PRAY THAT TERESA AND GREG AND ALL THEIR FAMILY WILL HAVE THE COMFORT IN KNOWING THAT A TOWN AND A MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN MONTICELLO KNEW HIM AND LOVED HIM. HE AND ROOSTER ARE UP THERE NOW PROBABLY HUGGIN EACH OTHER RIGHT NOW. ROOSTER WILL BE THERE FOR HIM AS WELL. AND OUR PRAYERS AND MERCY OF GODS MIGHT BLOOD BE POURED IN THE NAME OF JESUS. MAY THEIR PAIN BE SWIFT AND THEIR TEARS BE FEW FOR GOD IS THERE FOR ALL HIS CHILDREN JAKE INCLUDED. NOW HE TRUELY HAS WINGS
wow, i went to school with him since elementary school. i’ll be keeping his family in my thoughts.
Our prayers are with all the family. May God give you peace and comfort in this time of sorrow.
My prayers are with Jakes family and friends. Jake I will miss you terribly. I enjoyed you coming over with Justin so much. You were always willing to help me around the house and fix my flat tires on the Rav 4 and mow my yard. I am so blessed to have had you as a part of my life. You were a very special young man. Mylah will miss you very much too. Until we meet again our love is with you and our love and prayers are with your family. Love from your Aunt Nita.
This is so sad. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as they face this difficult situation. I pray that God will give them the strength they need to deal with this and understand why.
Teresa and Greg and Family:
I am so sorry to hear about Jake. He will always hold a special place in my heart. I still remember when he and Leigh were in elementary school and had the “going together” thing. He was a sweet boy! Keep God in your heart and hold strong to your faith, you will over come this in time. My prayers go out to you and your family during this sad time.
We are praying for you all. We are SO VERY SORRY. I love you Teresa and all of your extended family. God Bless Jake Dylan.
Robert, Kim & Dustin
My thoughts and prayers are with the family. I know Jake will be missed:(
Greg & Teresa,
As a lifelong friend of Greg, Ann, Arland and Carylon, my heart ached for you. Greg & Ann, you are like my brother & sister. I will always love y’all. Denon Lamkin Weaver
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. I know this is a hard time and it is difficult to understand why things have to happen like this but God has a plan and a reason for everything. We must praise him in the good and in the bad. You will be missed Jake, you were and forever will be loved!
There are no words that will take away the pain that family & friends of Jake are feeling right now. He was like part of the family and will be missed so very much. Teresa & family you will be in our prayers and thoughts I am so sorry for your loss. We love you Jake.
Teresa, my prayers are with you. May God sustain you and bless you with His strength & peace.
Our prayers are with you all! May God give you comfort in the days to come.
Cindy & Mike
My prayers go out to my schoolmate’s family! He was a wonderful, sweet, talented, and loving young man and he will truly be missed!! I have cried and cried first Rooster then Courtland and now Jake! I Love you and miss all of you!
R.I.P Jake
R.I.P Courtland
R.I.P Rooster
Teresa, Greg & families: There are no words that can ease the pain you are feeling right now. Keep your eyes on the Lord. He is the only one that can give you strength right now. I will keep you in my prayers. Sincerely,
My thoughts and prayers are with Teresa and the family. I am so sorry about your loss.
Your family will be in my prayers as you go through this difficult time. Jake will be missed by many… and even though nobody understands this… God knows the big plan!! God bless you now and in the many hard days ahead.
~Mandy
Mrs. Teresa, Mr. Ron
Mr. Greg, Laura Ashton and Callie Jo & family
Words cannot express how sorry I am for your loss. I can’t even imagine the pain your family is going through. Please know that we are keeping you in our prayers. We love ya’ll and you are very dear to our family.
Love,
Jeff and Jamie Rawls
My thoughts and prayers go out to his family i couldnt even begin to imagin what their going threw. Jake wasnt only a class mate but a friend and we will all love and miss him unconditionally. Just remember everyone to keep your faith strong because God does everything for a reason and never puts us threw things we cant handle. love and miss you Jake
My prayers are with this family during this horrible time. It is such a loss for them and our community.
My heart goes out to th family of Jake! Keep God first in your lives and he will be your rock and your salvation during this time!
he will be miss i went to school with he we all miss Jake Dylan Casteel
love
francis
is like i have known him since i was a baby he is such a sweet funny kid . … all who know him will miss him with everything they have. he is a really good kid who didnt deserve this happening to him im praying for teresa and her husband and kids and jakes dad this is a horable time for all of us and everyone is crying we will miss him dearly i just hope that everyone who knows him prays for his family this is very tragic event and we will all miss him dearly
im sorry and praying for teresa and her family this is horable and we all will miss him
To the Family: My heart goes out to you all. I know how special son’s are. Teresa if you need anything, all you have to do is call. My God bless you and give you strength.
I am praying for ya miss teresa and as brittney said the whole class of 2009 Will Truly miss him and we will always love him i became good friends with jake in school and he always treated me like a brother and for that i am truly greatful. I will continue to pray for the family and that god will help us through this tough time. God Bless you Jake and i will see ya soon buddy!
Jake will truly be missed. I Pray that God will be with his family at this painful time. We all loved him so very much, what a great man Teresa has raised him up to be. Love You.
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS WITH THE FAMILY
Teresa and Gregg, I am so terribly sorry to hear about Jake Dylan. Please know that I am praying for all of you and asking for the healing power of love to carry you through this difficult time.
Pam Hairston Goddard
Jake will be truley missed by all. I had him in a coupel of my classes, he was always such a joy and blessing to be around. My thoughts and prays are with all family and friends!!!
My prayers goes out to the family. I only can imagine the pain you feel. But, the Lord God Almighty shall be your strength.
tresa and greg, arland and carolyn you are in my thougts and prayers i am thinking of you’ll
All of my prayers are with you guys! RIP Jake I love you and miss you!
I am saddened by the news of Jake Dylan. My heart goes out to Greg, Teresa, Callie Jo, Laura Ashton and family. I love you all.
Words are so inadequate at a time like this. Our prayer is that you can feel God’s love and comfort through the caring people of our community. Rejoice in the good memories. Teresa, you and your family are in our prayers. For the other gentlemen in the wreck and his family, May God give you peace and comfort also. Joe and Gay
Jake will be missed by us all. He always helped when I was down about things. He was one person that I used to call when I had a problem. The family will always be in my prayers. I am trying to keep strong because I know that is what should be done. That is what he would want us to do because he is looking down at all of us and he is happier than he has ever been. I am Praying for everyone that knew him. He will be missed!
Jake..we the class of “09” will miss you dearly..and we love you soo much..we must all accept the fact that everyone has to go even though we didnt think it would be so soon..our prayers go out to your family..may god bless..rest in peace!
My prayers go out to the Casteel family! God Bless Ya’ll during this time. Callie i’m sorry sweetheart i know ya’ll loved each other so much!!!!
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