Teen struck, killed near Lincoln-Way Central

NEW LENOX – A student was fatally struck by a truck Friday near Lincoln-Way Central High School.

Dylan R. Wischover, 17, of Manhattan was struck by a semitrailer near the intersection of Route 30 and Schoolhouse Road in New Lenox, according to the Will County Coroner's Office.

New Lenox Fire Chief Steve Engledow said an ambulance was called at 10:07 a.m. after the teen was hit. He was taken to Silver Cross Hospital.

Wischover was declared dead at 10:46 a.m. in the Silver Cross emergency room, according to the coroner's office.

New Lenox Police Chief Bob Sterba said an accident reconstruction team was called to the scene.

"The truck driver did stop after the crash occurred," Sterba said. "We are still investigating the cause of the accident."

Lincoln-Way District 210 Superintendent Scott Tingley said in a statement Wischover had many friends at Central High. The school will have grief counselors and psychologists on hand to help deal with the loss, he said.

“On behalf of the Lincoln-Way High School District 210, I want to extend our thoughts and prayers to the parents, family and friends of Dylan Wischover, who has lost his life in a tragic accident on Friday, Feb. 13, 2015,” he said in the statement.

Donna Olha, a volunteer for the Bella Fiori Flower Shop just west of where the accident occurred, said she was taking a left turn from Schoolhouse Road to westbound Route 30 about 10:05 a.m. when she noticed a truck stopped along with about four cars in front of her. Plastic debris was strewn on the road.

"I saw [Wischover] on the road," she said, pointing to the north curb of the median. "He was right next to my car. He wasn't moving."

Olha said a woman came running from a car to check on Wischover. Olha asked her if anyone had called 9-1-1 and the woman said she didn't know. While Olha called 9-1-1, she said she saw the woman get a blanket and cover Wischover.

Olha said the 9-1-1 operator told her police received numerous phone calls and that help was on the way.

"When you're in the moment, you're not thinking sad, you're thinking what can we do to help," Olha said. "But this was very tragic."

An autopsy is scheduled for Saturday, according to the coroner's office, and a final cause of death will be determined at a later date pending police, autopsy and toxicology reports.