By Craig Anderson

LEWES — She was remembered as an standout athlete and excellent student, as well as a loving and compassionate soul to all around her.

Margaret “Maggie” Browne, 16, of Rehoboth Beach, died in an all-terrain vehicle accident Tuesday and will clearly be missed but never forgotten.

In the aftermath of the Cape Henlopen High School sophomore’s death, its track-and-field coach Tim Bamforth announced that the team will wear the letter “M” on their uniforms for the rest of the season in tribute to their late teammate.

Honoring the teen on the Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium website, Mr. Bamforth wrote, “Words (and) pictures can not even begin to express the love that my Cape Coaching staff and Cape Track & Field Girls had for Maggie.

“She has been with us at Beacon Middle and now at Cape Henlopen and has been the queen of the jumps. So talented as a cheer/gymnastic athlete she found a way to convert that talent to the long, triple and high jump events. Her last meet last month, with mom in the cold 30 degree bleachers, Maggie won the long and high jump events.

“She will be missed dearly and heaven now has a great jumper!”

In an obituary, the teen’s family described her spirit as “effervescent, her compassion for those around her, humbling. While we cannot fathom life without her, we know that she left a little bit of her with everyone she met.

“Her memory and impact on those she loved unconditionally will be forever remembered. She was a loving, compassionate, and devoted daughter, sister, granddaughter, aunt, niece, cousin, and friend.”

Maggie had dreams of becoming an engineer, her family said, “and had a fierce love of reading, gravitating towards mythology and historical fiction.”

Also, according to the family, the teenager “enjoyed music and movies and spending time at the beach with friends. Maggie cherished time spent with those closest to her most of all.”

A walk-through visitation is scheduled for Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium’s Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, according to the obituary.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at St. Edmond Roman Catholic Church, 409 King Charles Ave., Rehoboth Beach. The Mass will be livestreamed on YouTube.

Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Maggie’s memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Donations can be made here.

On its Facebook page Thursday, the Cape Henlopen School District posted a message that read, in part, “Our Cape community is heartbroken over the loss of one of our students. Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family members and friends of all those involved.

“Sudden death can be a very upsetting experience. Please monitor your child and support them, as this can be a very difficult time for them, even if they were not close to our beloved student.”

The district shared contact information for those who might need immediate support — a 24/7 crisis hotline available by calling (800) 969-HELP or by texting “DE” to 741741. School counselors will also be available to students and staff following spring break, the district said.

Maggie was among five teenage female occupants of an ATV that crashed after skidding off a private asphalt driveway next to Robinsonville Road in Lewes on Tuesday, Delaware State Police said. The vehicle overturned and came to rest on its roof, after crashing into a tree, according to authorities.

Two girls — ages 16 and 15 — suffered serious injuries, while two others — ages 17 and 16 — suffered minor injuries. The teens with serious injuries were transported to a hospital via helicopter, and police said Wednesday they were in stable condition. The two victims with minor injuries were transported to a hospital by ambulance, treated and released, DSP said.

The school district said that several Cape Henlopen High students were involved in the incident.

Delaware Department of Transportation spokesman C.R. McLeod said the agency “does not regulate ATVs or similar vehicles. They are not ‘street-legal’ and are not to be driven on municipal or state streets.

“DelDOT does not have any oversight of operation on private property,” he added.

DSP said Wednesday that the Troop 7 Collision Reconstruction Unit was investigating the incident. Authorities asked anyone with information to contact Cpl./1 A. Mitchell of CRU by calling 644-5020.