A principal went to check on a school bus crash. Then, a tragic turn on a Broward street.
A principal was struck and killed by a car while at a crash involving a school bus filled with his students in Broward County, according to school officials.
Jovan Rembert was founder and principal of the private West Park Preparatory School, 2201 SW 42nd Ave.
The school says one of their buses had a fender-bender during dismissal Thursday and Rembert had left to go check on the students. He was then hit by a car while crossing the street at the intersection of Hallandale Beach Boulevard and Southwest 40th Avenue and died from his injuries, according to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.
“Jovan opened up doors of opportunity through his program. He took in adolescents from the community, poured into them, spoke life and helped them to obtain their diploma while encouraging them to take on trade programs,” Rembert’s cousin, Janeshia Singleton, wrote on Facebook Friday. “Praying that his legacy and what he’s started for the West Park Community continue to grow and impact lives. Please keep our family in prayer.”
The 19-year-old driver of the 2016 Dodge Charger drove around the block and returned to the crash, deputies say.
It happened only a few minutes away from the school.
West Park Preparatory canceled classes Friday because of the tragedy and are working to have crisis counselors available at the campus Monday for students impacted by his death.
“Dr. Rembert was an amazing family man, father, minister, principal and friend. He treated all those who he met with compassion and love.” the school said in a statement. “As our hearts grieve his loss, we will pull together in prayer while comforting and supporting one another. We are sure his legacy of being a servant leader will live on in the lives of those he touched.”
One of the most recent post’s on the school’s Facebook was a photo wishing Rembert a happy birthday. He turned 43 in December.
“This was like a family and he was a part of it,” Principal Eboni Burts of ECB Educational Center, which shares a campus with West Park Preparatory, told WSVN. “He is a part of it. We had devotion together and just explained that one of our members, one of the people here at West Park, one of the principals, one of the directors is no longer with us.”
Rembert was also a member of Delta Nu Omega Christian Fraternity’s Broward County chapter, according to his Facebook. The organization, which says it’s comprised of professional Christian musicians from Broward and Palm Beach County, lists him as their “1st Grand National President” on its website.
BSO says its traffic homicide detectives are investigating the crash.
This story was originally published March 6, 2020 at 12:19 PM.
