Suburban Teen Killed In Crash In Mexico
ALSIP, Ill. (STMW) - An Alsip teenager who recently graduated from eighth grade died Tuesday in a car accident in Mexico, a school official told the SouthtownStar.
Crystal Fernandez graduated from Prairie Junior High School in June, and would have been a freshman at Shepard High School, according to Craig Gwaltney, superintendent of Alsip, Hazelgreen and Oak Lawn School District 126.
"It's sad, very sad," Gwaltney said Wednesday. "She was a popular girl, a good kid from a great family."
Grief counselors will be available at Prairie Junior High, 11910 S. Kostner Ave. in Alsip, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday even though classes are not in session, he said.
Crystal's mother, Araceli Fernandez, is a teacher's aide at Lane Elementary School in Alsip, Gwaltney said. She suffered minor injuries in the accident, he said.
Crystal's father, Juan Fernandez, arrived in Mexico on Wednesday morning to be with his family, Gwaltney said.
The couple have two other children, one at Shepard High School and one who will be starting at Prairie Junior High in the coming school year.
A vigil for Crystal was planned Wednesday evening outside Prairie Junior High, Gwaltney said.
Arrangements are pending.
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