Richards Mourns Loss of Student Killed in Tragic Accident

Richards High School will have a crisis team available Monday when students after the sudden tragic death of a student who died in a car accident early Saturday morning in Willow Springs.

Jonathan Grabinski, 17, of Chicago Ridge, was killed along with his friend, Salvatore Melant, when their SUV struck a tree around 3:40 a.m. Saturday in unincorporated Willow Springs.

• Also on Patch: 2 Teens Die in Archer Avenue Crash Saturday

The Cook County Sheriff’s Department said the two were in a Ford Explorer traveling east on a curve when the drive lost control in the 9400 block of South Archer Avenue. Both died at the scene.

"We are shocked and saddened by this tragic accident and by the passing of Jonathan Grabinski,” Dist. 218 Ty Harting said in a written statement. “We will keep Jonathan and his family in our thoughts and prayers and we will offer any support we can to his family, his friends, and to the entire Richards High School community. Whenever we lose a student we lose a part of ourselves as well. Our hearts go out to the Grabinski family during this very difficult time."

Even though school is closed Monday for Casimir Pulaski Day, counselors and social workers will be available from noon to 2 p.m. Monday “for anyone from our community who’s having difficulty processing this tragedy,” Richards posted on its Facebook page.

These same services will be available when Richards students and staff return to school on Tuesday, Harting said in an email.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Jonathan’s parents, Karrie and Roger pay for funeral costs. As of Sunday evening, $5,550 had been raised toward a goal of $10,000.

A statement on the GoFundMe page said that Jon wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, who was a police officer.

“Today the world is a little more dim and Heaven gained a wonderful soul way to soon. Today early in the morning a son, brother, cousin,and friend to many, Jonathan Grabinski, passed away. His family and friends are understandably in deep mourning. JJ's smile lit up any room he walked into and his laughter was infectious. His nickname was Smiley for this reason …”

Melant was a 2015 graduate of St. Laurence High School in Burbank.

“Sam Melant was an awesome young man,” STL principal Jim Muting told ABC 7 Chicago. He was a member of our band and student maintenance crew. He would help out at school events with his dad who was vice- president of STL Fathers' club. The entire St. Laurence community is mourning the loss of Sam. Our prayers go out to Sam and his family."

Muting said Melant was the third tragic death of a St. Laurence alumni in recent months.

Visitation for Jonathan Grabinski is set for Wednesday, March 9, from 3 to 9 p.m., with a chapel service at 7 p.m. at Curley Funeral Home, 6116 W. 111th St., Chicago Ridge.