12-10-2006, 02:54 PM
Two New Lenox men killed in Corvette vs. trees crash; one taken to hospital
December 9, 2006
By Gregg Sherrard Blesch Staff writer
A Chevrolet Corvette careened off Francis Road into a stand of trees early Friday, killing two of three New Lenox men who were thrown from the car, Mokena police said.
Christopher C. Sommers, 22, and David Sauseda, 38, were dead when Mokena police arrived at the wreckage just west of Townline Road about 4:20 a.m. Scott A. Rossow, 22, was taken to St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields, where his condition was not available Friday night, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Police as of Friday night had not determined who was the driver, Police Chief Randy Rajewski said.
Sommers, in the Coast Guard since 2004, had just returned Thursday night from training in South Carolina, said his mother, Robin Sommers. Sommers and Rossow had been buddies since attending Lincoln-Way Central High School together, she said.
Sauseda and Rossow were stepbrothers and ran a motorcycle and snowmobile repair shop in New Lenox. The trio planned to drive to Wisconsin this weekend to ride snowmobiles, Robin Sommers said.
She said her son was stationed at Calumet Harbor and had an apartment in Chicago.
"He said he was going to stay in (the Coast Guard) 20 years," she said. "I think it gave him pride, serving his country. He loved it, he absolutely loved it."
His company in boot camp voted him best shipmate, she said, and the company marched in President Ronald Reagan's funeral procession.
Rajewski said police were unsure how fast the westbound car was going when it left the road, which curves north near the intersection.
He said the white 2001 Corvette did not belong to any of the three men. The registered owner told police he lent the car to an acquaintance, Rajewski said, adding that he didn't know whether the borrower was one of the men involved in the crash. The chief declined to identify the car owner.
Sommers is survived by his mother, his father, Scott, and a sister, Jamie.
His visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday at Kurtz Memorial Chapel in New Lenox. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at United Methodist Church of New Lenox, where his mother is the office manager.
Neither Sauseda's nor Rossow's family could be reached Friday for comment.
Rossow's mother, Jacqueline Miller, is principal at Haines Elementary School in New Lenox School District 122.
December 9, 2006
By Gregg Sherrard Blesch Staff writer
A Chevrolet Corvette careened off Francis Road into a stand of trees early Friday, killing two of three New Lenox men who were thrown from the car, Mokena police said.
Christopher C. Sommers, 22, and David Sauseda, 38, were dead when Mokena police arrived at the wreckage just west of Townline Road about 4:20 a.m. Scott A. Rossow, 22, was taken to St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields, where his condition was not available Friday night, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Police as of Friday night had not determined who was the driver, Police Chief Randy Rajewski said.
Sommers, in the Coast Guard since 2004, had just returned Thursday night from training in South Carolina, said his mother, Robin Sommers. Sommers and Rossow had been buddies since attending Lincoln-Way Central High School together, she said.
Sauseda and Rossow were stepbrothers and ran a motorcycle and snowmobile repair shop in New Lenox. The trio planned to drive to Wisconsin this weekend to ride snowmobiles, Robin Sommers said.
She said her son was stationed at Calumet Harbor and had an apartment in Chicago.
"He said he was going to stay in (the Coast Guard) 20 years," she said. "I think it gave him pride, serving his country. He loved it, he absolutely loved it."
His company in boot camp voted him best shipmate, she said, and the company marched in President Ronald Reagan's funeral procession.
Rajewski said police were unsure how fast the westbound car was going when it left the road, which curves north near the intersection.
He said the white 2001 Corvette did not belong to any of the three men. The registered owner told police he lent the car to an acquaintance, Rajewski said, adding that he didn't know whether the borrower was one of the men involved in the crash. The chief declined to identify the car owner.
Sommers is survived by his mother, his father, Scott, and a sister, Jamie.
His visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday at Kurtz Memorial Chapel in New Lenox. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at United Methodist Church of New Lenox, where his mother is the office manager.
Neither Sauseda's nor Rossow's family could be reached Friday for comment.
Rossow's mother, Jacqueline Miller, is principal at Haines Elementary School in New Lenox School District 122.
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