Gary, IN : 2 Kaneland High School students killed in crash in Virgil Township on Saturday, November 5, 2016

Two Kaneland High School students were killed in a crash west of Route 47 in Virgil Township in rural Kane County.

Arthur Stenger, 16, of the 1900 block of Cambridge Way, Montgomery, and 16-year old Elijah Vajgert, of the 42W200 block of Beith Road, Maple Park, were juniors at Kaneland High School in Maple Park.

The teenagers were killed in a two-vehicle crash around 5 p.m. Saturday at Meredith and Beith roads, Kane County Sheriff's Office officials said.

Virgil Township is a rural area between Route 64 and Route 38, north of Kaneland High School.

"Our hearts go out to the families," Kaneland School District 302 Superintendent Todd Leden said Sunday.

Leden said the boys were only midway in their high school careers.

"It is extremely sad and a tragic loss of life. These were two young boys in high school just beginning to experience life," Leden said.

Stenger and Vajgert were pronounced dead on the scene, according to Kane County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Lt. Pat Gengler.

"The only thing more difficult for a sheriff's office that has to inform a parent that his child is not coming home is that we have to tell two sets of parents," Gengler said.

According to the preliminary investigation, Stenger was driving a 2002 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck westbound on Beith Road and Vajert was a passenger.

Stenger stopped at the stop sign and for an unknown reason pulled into the intersection and collided into a semi-truck hauling corn. The truck was headed southbound on Meredith Road and did not have to stop, Gengler said.

The driver of the truck, Jack Krueger, 60, of Burlington, was treated at the scene and released, according to Gengler.

"The driver of the semi reported that he had seen the pickup stop at the stop sign," Gengler said.

Gengler said the force of the crash forced both vehicles to roll on their side. A utility pole and power lines were also pulled down. The intersection was closed during the investigation and while ComEd crews repaired the utilities in the area.

Gengler said the Kane County Sheriff's Office and Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team are investigating the crash.

Leden said the district immediately implemented its crisis response support teams in preparation for students returning to school Monday.

Leden said Kaneland families were notified via an electronic letter that the students had died in an auto accident and the district was prepared to reach out to students overwhelmed by the loss of two of their classmates.

Leden informed parents that crisis response teams and counselors at Kaneland High School and Harter Middle School will be available to meet with students as long as necessary. Leden also suggested that parents be sensitive over the next few days to how their children might be responding to the tragedy. Parents with questions can also reach out to a child's teacher, the school counselors or members of the administrative staff, he said.

"Students grieve in different ways. Some students will want to talk right away while others will take several days before they can process their thoughts. We will have our support in place at both the high school and middle school," Leden said.

Leden said both students have siblings that attend school in the district.

Source :
2 Kaneland High School students killed in crash