Fundraiser Started For Families Of D227 Students Killed In Crash

MATTESON, IL — A fundraiser has been started to support the families of two Rich Township District 227 students who were killed in a car crash Oct. 29.

Three district students and one alumna were involved in the single-vehicle crash that claimed the lives of Isaiah Kindle, 17, and Tierney Richmond-Kee, 16, both current students. Kindle and Richmond-Kee were killed when the car they were in struck a fixed object in the 22400 block of Lawndale Avenue in Richton Park, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner. They were both juniors at the district’s Fine Arts and Communications campus, formerly Rich South, the Daily Southtown reports.

Rich East graduate Naia Sutton and current student Briyah Booker were injured in the crash.

The district announced this week that a GoFundMe has been started to support the families of Kindle and Mc-Kee.

"In support of the students and families, and in the belief that as a community, we are stronger together, a Go Fund Me page has been organized," wrote the district in a release.

"The families are in need of support and as a community, we are asking the community to give a donation that will be presented to the families and will go to offset the cost of the two funerals," wrote the organizers of the GoFundMe.

The school is making grief counselors available for both students and staff, it said in a release.

"Our hope is that our student support team can provide an avenue through which students will be able to cope with this tragedy," said RTHS District 227 Superintendent Dr. Johnnie Thomas in a letter to parents and guardians.

Additional donations for the families can be mailed or dropped off at the RTHS District Office: 20550 S. Cicero Avene, Matteson, IL 60443, Attention: Vanessa Glenn, Executive Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent.

GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.