BGHS students select crash survivor as their king
Shawn Mitchum threw his own election for Buffalo Grove High School homecoming king.
"When I found out Elliott was on the court, I told all my friends to vote for him," Mitchum said. "I wanted Elliott to win."
He did.
Elliott Cellini still struggles to recover from a July 2006 car accident where the driver of a speeding truck crashed into his car, robbing him of a close friend and a normal life.
On Friday, Buffalo Grove High School students elected Cellini the 2007 homecoming king. Senior Laura Dattilo was named queen.
"My favorite part of the whole thing was the cheers," Cellini said. "I'm so very thankful to the students, teachers and everyone in the whole community for supporting me."
Cellini was 16 years old when he got behind the wheel of a Ford Taurus on July 23, 2006, to tote two pals, fellow members of Buffalo Grove High's show choir, to Walgreens for snacks.
But shortly after 8 p.m., a U-Haul truck driven by Ralph O. Lewis -- a 26-year-old on parole for forgery and wanted on two warrants -- blew a red light in Wheeling and smashed into the trio's car, police said.
The collision ended Lewis' 22-mile flight from police. It also killed 16-year-old Corey Diamond. Brandon Forshall, 17, suffered minor injuries. Lewis is representing himself as his case continues to wind through the legal system.
Cellini sustained trauma to the brain that landed him in a three-week coma, but he was able to return to Buffalo Grove High School five months after the crash. Cellini recalls nothing of the accident. Today, he still has memory problems and undergoes physical therapy. Cellini will attend Saturday's homecoming football game and dance.
While much of last year was filled with pain, on Friday, there was only celebration.
Cellini and Dattilo's victory lap around the high school's gym was a sweet one. Fellow students yelled cheers and pumped their fists in the air for support.
Holding roses, Dattilo smiled and waved at her friends. Using a cane for support, Cellini lapped the gym wearing a crown.
At one point, the crown slipped off his head.
Cellini paused, set down his cane and readjusted the crown.
And then kept going.