By JOSH DOERING
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
A Fishers High School student was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 94 near Chicago on Saturday morning, according to a Hamilton Southeastern Schools spokesperson and Illinois State Police.
Reibel
Jake Reibel, 16, was a sophomore at the school. He was a Hamilton Southeastern High School student, where he was on the football team in 2021, and transferred midyear to Fishers High School.
Emergency crews were called to the crash about 5 a.m. Saturday on the southbound lanes of Interstate 94 at 170th Street, Illinois State Police said in a Sunday news release. The release did not say what type of vehicle in which Reibel was a passenger.
The vehicle left the road, struck a light pole and rolled into an embankment, the release said. The juvenile driver and three other juvenile passengers were taken to a hospital with serious injuries.
The names of the other juveniles in the crash were not included in the Illinois State Police release, which said no further information was immediately available. The state police did not respond to an email inquiry from WISH-TV News 8 about whether toxicology tests were performed.
The school district issued the following statement:
“Our school community is sending their thoughts and support to the Reibel family as we are deeply saddened by this sudden loss,” the school said in a statement sent to students and their families.
“Students will have varied reactions to the death of a peer. Any reaction is normal in the grief process and can range from withdrawal, to crying and anger. We encourage you to talk with your student about their thoughts and feelings.
“Below are some ways that you can do this:
“Provide outlets for expression such as drawing, writing, talking and any other engaging activities.
“Be honest. When they ask difficult questions, it’s okay to say you don’t know the answer.
Reassure them of their own health and safety and make sure they know that you are emotionally available to them.”
The school district says its crisis response team will be available in the media center throughout the week to provide additional support to students.
Information about funeral arrangements will be released when available, according to the spokesperson.