The Portage community is mourning the death of a Portage High School student killed in a Sunday car crash on Stagecoach Road.
The Porter County Coroner’s Office identified Dylan Childers, 17, of Portage as the passenger of the car that Portage police said went off the roadway and rolled, landing on its passenger side. Childers died at the scene.
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Portage High School Principal Michael Stills issued a statement to the school community Monday afternoon to say that a crisis team including counselors and school advisers would be available for students who needed to express their grief during this difficult loss.
“I extend my deepest sympathies to this student’s family and friends, and I ask that you keep them in your thoughts,” Stills said.
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The Portage High School Choirs also mourned Childers’ death in a Facebook post Monday, accompanied by several photos of Childers with his peers.
“Yesterday we lost a great friend, musician, and person. Dylan Childers, a member of Choraliers and Chorale, will be greatly missed by all in the PHS Choir family. Our hearts break for his family but we will continue to honor his legacy by singing loud and proud, loving each other, and laughing as much (as) possible. We love you, Dylan. Rest well.”
According to a news release from Lt. Rob Maynard, public information officer for the Portage Police Department, police were called around 12:37 p.m. Sunday to the 5700 block of Stagecoach Road for a report of a motor vehicle accident with one person seriously injured.
Police located a black 2007 Cadillac CTS off the roadway on its passenger side. The driver of the car as well as another passenger were attempting to provide CPR to Childers. Portage Fire Department medics arrived on the scene and took over treatment and requested a medical helicopter.
Despite their efforts, Childers died at the scene, Maynard said. The driver and another passenger were transported to a local hospital for minor injuries and evaluation and were later released.
An initial investigation showed that the Cadillac was eastbound on Stagecoach Road, Maynard said, when the driver failed to negotiate a left hand curve in the roadway because of excessive speed and the vehicle went off the south side of the road and rolled several times.
It appeared Childers was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the car, Maynard said.
The Portage Police Department Crash Reconstruction Team responded to the scene to conduct the investigation. At the conclusion of the investigation, Maynard said, a final report will be presented to the Porter County Prosecutor’s Office for review and determination of what, if any, criminal charges will be filed.
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“The Portage Police Department extends its sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased,” Maynard said.
alavalley@chicagotribune.com
