Hundreds Attend Vigil For Boy Hit By Car in Weekend Accident
About 200 people attended a prayer service at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Darien Tuesday night.
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About 200 people gathered at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Darien for a prayer service Tuesday night for an eighth-grader at Lakeview Junior High School who was seriously injured Sunday.
The boy has been part of the church's religious education program since he was in second grade, according to Gavin Quinn, a retired priest who led Tuesday's service.
"We must have hope," Quinn told the crowded room. "We must pray that God will hold (him) in the palm of his hand, that (he) will be able to graduate middle school, be confirmed and attend high school."
Some of the boy's classmates volunteered to help with the service, including reading aloud passages from the Bible and passing out candles and programs.
The prayer service was originally a Catholic mass but was altered to allow people of all faiths to attend. A vigil is also scheduled from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at Lakeview.
Quinn told Patch the boy is well-liked by his peers and loved by his two young sisters. He's involved in sports and is an honor roll student, Quinn said.
"He's always full of life and laughter," Quinn said. "His friends love him."
The boy was riding his bike through the crosswalk at Beller and Lemont roads in Darien Sunday afternoon when he was struck by a car and trapped underneath, according to Darien-Woodridge Fire District officials.
The car had to be lifted with two high-pressure air bags to reach him. He was found unconscious and taken to the Level 1 Trauma Center at Advocate Good-Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove before being airlifted to Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn. No current information on his condition has been released.
After Sunday’s accident, police closed the intersection at Lemont and Beller for more than three hours while the FIAT reconstruction team examined the scene. The investigation into the accident is ongoing.
In This article
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Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church
8404 S Cass Ave, Darien, IL -
Lakeview Junior High School
701 Plainfield Rd, Downers Grove, IL -
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Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District
7550 Lyman Ave, Darien, IL
Jim Jankowski
7:59 am on Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Father Quinn did a great job last night. There were also many kids who also participated in the vigil last night that made this even nicer. However, why does the patch need to put in the report about Mr. Hagan's other issues. Doesn't one think that he is going through enough after this? There is no reason to make the guy sound like some kind of a mad villan. I could see if he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs but this is not the case and I think any further write ups about this should not include the other brushes with the law. It has nothing to do with what took place. No I do not condone behavior of this nature but it is nobody's problem but his own. I myself, have been hit by 3 cars and 2 trucks as a pedestrian, and I have seen first hand of what the drivers go through on this. Pray for Hunter and his family and also pray for the driver.
Lauren Williamson
9:04 am on Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Hi Jim,
We considered your points and removed that portion of this story. Thank you for the thoughtful comment.
Best,
Lauren Williamson
Editor, Darien Patch
Mom
9:56 pm on Saturday, March 10, 2012
The Patch was not the only one that gave info on this driver.His name is in City of Darien Police Department Press release.Don't we all have the right to know who lives next door,and try to protect ourselves? I would understand your views if you know this man,I don't see here you do,so how can you be so sure he is not a ''mad villan''indeed?If you were hit 100 times and saw ''first hand what the drivers go through''that still does not mean the 101 st one would feel the same.And how do we know that his past wrong doings have NOTHING to do with this accident?It looks like this is a person who keeps hurting people.We don't know his past,his character,his mental health,or his driving record,and that's why I will save my prayers for the victim and his family!
C
12:02 pm on Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Any updates on Hunter? We continue to pray.
Melissa Tussing
12:18 pm on Wednesday, February 29, 2012
No information has been released to us. If we get anything, we'll post it ASAP.
MusicMom
2:39 pm on Wednesday, February 29, 2012
I fully agree regarding the driver and his personal issues... completely irrelevant to Hunters recovery and it's just unnecessary to drag him thru the mud. It's devastating to be on either end of this situation. The main priority is healing and prayers. I'm glad I caught this article after the edit, as I would have commented the same. Peace to Hunter and his Family.
Kelly Dahle
11:42 am on Friday, March 2, 2012
I hope and pray that Hunter recovers from this terrible accident. I am however a little shocked at the public support for the man who mowed down a child in a crosswalk. I would hazard to guess that most of the devastation is on the side of the victim and his family. Anger does not solve anything and accidents are a terrible thing can happen to any one of us but operating a vehicle can have serious consequences that I think we all seem to forget sometimes.
Mom
9:25 pm on Saturday, March 10, 2012
I agree with Kelly Dahle.I am totally shocked that anyone who does not know this man would defend him.Good choice of words:he did mowed down this child!