MILLSTADT, IL (KTVI-FOX2now.com)—
A 16-year-old Freeburg Community High School student is dead after the car he was in swerved to avoid a deer and rolled over. Now, the Freeburg High community is trying to come to grips with the tragedy. An announcement was made at the high school on Thursday about the crash and a moment of silence was held.The superintendent was among those stunned at the death of one of his students. "It's very tough. It is hard to deal with," said Andrew Lehman, the superintendent of the Freeburg Community High School District. Lehman was reacting to the tragic death of Chris Akers, 16.
Akers was a junior at Freeburg Community High School in Freeburg. Lehman calls Akers a quiet kid and a fine student. He says news of Chris' death impacted many at the school, "There were several students that I observed in the hallways that were very upset. And I approached a few of them and asked if they needed some extra help and stuff like that."
He added, "We're used to kids leaving here and going on to bigger and better things and not having to deal with a student whose life is cut short through a tragedy like this."
The crash happened Wednesday night around 7:00 p.m. in the 4900 of Algonquin Drive near Millstadt, Illinois. Investigators say Akers was in the front passenger seat of the car. Two other Freeburg high students were also in the car. A 16 year old was driving and a 17 year old was in the back seat.
Police say the two teens who survived told them when the car crested a hill, a deer was standing in the roadway. That's when we're told the car swerved and the tragedy happened.
Captain Steve Johnson with the St. Clair County Sheriffs Department said, "As they tried to avoid this deer, the driver lost control, the vehicle rolled several times and landed upside down and then started on fire."
Chris was rushed to a Belleville hospital, then taken by helicopter to a St. Louis hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The district superintendent says the tragedy is even harder for the students to take because finals begin Friday, "We'll just take it on a day-by-day basis and react as best we can."
The two other teens were also taken to the hospital. They were treated and released. We're told all of the teens were wearing seat belts and at this point investigators don't believe alcohol was a factor.
Chris' grandfather, Jim Akers told us on the phone Thursday night that Chris was named after his uncle who died in a motorcycle crash 21 years ago. He calls Chris an all around good kid and says his family is devastated.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
