UPDATE: Funeral Arrangements Set For Aurora Christian Student Who Died in Crash Near Elburn
Main Street between Green Road and Bunker Road. (CREDIT: Google Maps)
Aurora Christian High School students, faculty and parents are mourning the death of a 16-year-old student athlete who was killed Tuesday in a head-on crash near Elburn while returning home from a regional golf tournament.
(CREDIT: Knollcrest Funeral Home)
One other Aurora Christian student and the driver of the second vehicle were injured in the collision that took place around 4:35 p.m. Tuesday (Oct. 3, 2017) on Main Street between Green Road and Bunker Road in unincorporated Blackberry Township.
“Words cannot express how heavy our hearts are to lose one of our own,” Aurora Christian Principal Stacy Beebe said in a Facebook post. “Nate Kok was a great student, committed athlete, and faithful friend who was a positive example to everyone around him.
“While we are grieving deeply with the Kok family and as a community, we also have peace and hope knowing that Nate is now with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We’re also praying for Tyler, the Hammer family, and his medical team as he begins the healing process. We would like to thank the many people who have reached out including students, parents, law enforcement, and neighboring schools.”
The Kane County Sheriff’s Office and Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team are investigating the fatal traffic crash.
According to a Sheriff’s Office news release, the initial investigation indicates that a Jeep Compass driven by Sergio Espana, 20, of Batavia was traveling west on Main Street and a Mazda 6 driven by Tyler Hammer, 17, and containing Kok was traveling east on Main Street. For an unknown reason, it appears that the Mazda crossed the center line and collided with the Jeep head on.
(CREDIT: Google Maps)
Espana was assisted out of his car by people who stopped at the scene. Several other people used fire extinguishers to attempt put out the fire in his car.
Hammer was assisted out of his vehicle by other people who had stopped to help, but Kok had to be extricated from the vehicle by fire personnel. All persons were wearing seat belts.
Hammer and Espana were transported to Delnor Hospital with apparent non-life threatening injuries. Kok was flown from the scene to good Samaritan Hospital in Downer Grove At about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, sheriff’s deputies were advised that the passenger had died at Good Samaritan Hospital.
The roadway was closed for approximately four hours while the crash was investigated.
Hammer and Kok, students at Aurora Christian High School, were returning home from a regional golf tournament. Hammer is a resident of North Aurora, Kok was a resident of Oswego.
No tickets have been issued at this time.
SOURCE: Kane County Sheriff’s Office news release, Aurora Christian High School Facebook page
Obituary for Nathanael Roger Kok
SOURCE: Knollcrest Funeral Home website
Nathanael Roger Kok, age 16, of Oswego, was the dear son of Daniel and Jennifer Kok, nee Shaw; beloved grandson of Richard and the late Barbara Shaw and Roger and Joyce Kok; fond brother of Josh, David, and Caleb Kok; nephew, cousin, relative, and friend of many.
Nate was a graduate of Cross Lutheran School and student of Aurora Christian High School, where he was member of the golf team, basketball team and choir. Nate had a deep love for the Lord and a passion for learning more about God’s Word.
Visitation is 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, with a service at 2 p.m. at Christ Community Church of Plainfield, 12410 S Van Dyke Road, Plainfield, IL 60585. Interment is private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the scholarship fund in Nate’s memory at Aurora Christian Schools, 2255 Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506. Funeral info: 630-932-1500.
FATAL CRASH
