Aurora Central Catholic Grieving After Crash Takes Lives of 2 Students
The Aurora Central Catholic and Kane County community is grieving following the news that two ACC students were killed and one seriously injured in a Tuesday crash on Route 38 east of Rochelle.
A press release on the Aurora Central Catholic website said a car carrying six students on the way to the Rochelle Sectional basketball game collided with a semi-trailer truck. Media reports said the accident occurred around 5:55 p.m. at the intersection of Route 38 and Dement Road in Rochelle. It is highly likely that an auto accident lawyer will be contacted to work out who was at fault in this accident and give them the compensation they deserve.
“The accident was precipitated by the fog and zero visibility,” the press release said.
As of noon Wednesday, authorities had not released the names of the students who died in the crash. A male, front-seat passenger died at the scene, and a female passenger was pronounced dead at Rochelle Community Hospital, according to media reports.
One of the injured students was transported by ambulance to OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford. He was resting Tuesday night, and is in stable condition in the intensive care unit of OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, the ACC press release said.
Three other students were transported to Rochelle Community Hospital and later released to their parents and families, the ACC press release said.
Father F. William Etheredge, the principal of Aurora Central Catholic, arrived on the scene a few minutes after the accident. He was with the students and made contact with all of the families about the accident.
The Aurora Central Catholic school community gathered early Wednesday morning for a special Mass to pray for the students involved in the accident, their families and the school community.
“This school community is grieving as a result of this terrible accident and the death of two students,” the press release said. “Father Etheredge invites the local community to join us in prayer for the students and their families who died in this accident.He also invites the community to pray for the injured student and the entire school community.”
Priests, the Guidance Department, and grief counselors are assisting the students.
Kane County Board member Theresa Barreiro said at the end of Wednesday’s Administrative Committee that the death of the two high school students, both sophomores, has deeply affected the community.
“So keep them in your prayers,” she said.
The city of Aurora Facebook page posted this comment:
“Our condolences are with the entire Aurora Central Catholic High School Community and the families and friends of the two young Chargers who passed away in such a tragic car accident last night. We’ve talked with many members of the ACC family throughout the night, and we join together as one supportive community as we mourn the loss of these two bright lights gone too soon.“
