UPDATED: Police Investigate "Car Surfing" Accident, Vehicle Passengers Uninjured
A 16-year-old Wheaton student was airlifted to Loyola Medical Center with serious injuries after he rolled off a car and was hit by another vehicle near Northside Park on Tuesday afternoon. A District 200 spokesman says he is alert and talking.
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Updated Wednesday, 12:02 p.m. (Last update: Tuesday, 8:06 p.m.)
A 16-year-old Wheaton North High School student is expected to make a "full recovery" with minor injuries after being hit by a vehicle while "car surfing" near Northside Park on Tuesday afternoon, said District 200 spokesman Erica Loiacono.
Wheaton investigators learned the teen was riding on the hood of a black 2001 Ford Focus and fell off Tuesday, according to a press release from the Wheaton Police Department. He was then hit by the Focus, which another teenage boy drove. The driver and another female passenger were not injured, according to the release.
The student was airlifted to Loyola Medical Center after the incident around 2:35 p.m.
Wheaton Deputy Police Chief Tom Meloni said police responded to a call to Armbrust Avenue and Darling Street, after school ended around 2:35 p.m. The teen was "seriously injured," and treated by paramedics before he was taken to Loyola Medical Center, Meloni said.
District 200 spokesman Erica Loiacono said the student was "car surfing" on the hood of a car near the park after school. He rolled off the car, she said, and another student accidentally hit him with their vehicle.
Police are investigating the accident, Meloni said.
The student has not been released from the hospital, but is alert and talking, Loiacono said.
The accident remains under investigation. Investigators will review the actions of all involved for potential charges.
Police encourage anyone who witnessed the accident to call the Wheaton Police Department at 630-260-2161 and ask for the accident investigation team.
Pat E.
6:17 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
I was riding my bike through Northside after work, and this was quite a site. I wish students and kids understood how important it is when you're behind the wheel of an automobile. Tragic, hope he's okay. Thanks to the police, EMTs, and fire personnel who did a great job gaining and maintaining control of the situation!
Charlotte Eriksen
11:41 am on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Wow. Yes definitely, thanks Pat E.
Lisa
9:07 am on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Last Wednesday, a week ago today, I had just loaded my young kids into the car at Seven Gables Park in Wheaton after their soccer practice, and some teenagers went "car surfing" right by us in the parking lot, apparently just to get from one of of the lot to the other. I watched to see if it was going to continue, since, if it had, I would have told them to stop and/or called the police - not out of malice, but to prevent something like this tragedy from happening. They didn't continue it though. Because I could tell that my kids were thinking how fun it looked, I told them how dangerous and illegal it is and how people get hurt and even die from doing this. I will print this article and have them read it.
I hope the boy recovers fully and, while it's unfortunate that he was injured, I'm glad he wasn't killed. Hopefully his misfortune has saved one or more lives by causing others not to car surf in the future.