Crosses are seen Monday where two teen boys were pronounced dead at the scene of a crash, which occurred about 5 p.m. Saturday near Meredith and Beith roads northwest of Elburn. Killed were Arthur Stenger, left, a 16-year-old from Montgomery, and Elijah Vajgert, right, a 16-year-old from Maple Park. Both were juniors at Kaneland High.
Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
Kaneland High School students and staff returned to school with heavy hearts Monday, following the deaths of two juniors in a weekend crash in Maple Park.
Arthur “Arty” Stenger of Montgomery and Elijah Vajgert of Maple Park were killed when the pickup truck Arty was driving was hit by a trailer truck at Meredith and Beith roads.
The teens were headed west on Beith Road in a 2002 Chevrolet S-10 pickup that had stopped for the stop sign at intersection. For an unknown reason, authorities said, the truck then pulled into the intersection and was struck by a 1979 Peterbilt semi hauling corn and traveling south on Meredith Road.
Both boys died at the scene.
The 16-year-olds were juniors.
“Today we heard over and over what nice guys they were,” Principal Jill Maras said. “They had a great sense of humor and were really good friends. Again and again the students and staff described them as boys their parents can be very proud of.
“They will be missed and our students and staff are grieving. The community and area districts have been very supportive and the outreach of care is sustaining us during this difficult time.”
Grief counselors were on hand in the school to discuss the matter with students.
Funeral arrangements have not been announced yet.
Arthur Stenger, 16, of Montgomery, was killed in a weekend crash in Maple Park.
Elijah Vajgert, 16, of Maple Park, was killed in a weekend crash in Maple Park.
Friends of Kaneland High School students Arthur "Arty" Stenger and Elijah Vajgert said their goodbyes on homemade white crosses near the scene of the crash that killed them, near Meredith and Beith roads. Arthur was a 16-year-old from Montgomery, and Elijah, also 16, lived in Maple Park. Both were juniors.
Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
Elijah Vajgert was one of two Kaneland High School students killed Saturday in a crash near Meredith and Beith roads northwest of Elburn.
Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
Arthur "Arty" Stenger was one of two Kaneland High School students killed Saturday in a crash near Meredith and Beith roads northwest of Elburn.
Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
Crosses were put up near the scene of a Saturday crash that killed two students. Arthur "Arty" Stenger, a 16-year-old from Montgomery, and Elijah Vajgert, a 16-year-old from Maple Park, were juniors.
Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com