Funeral Services Set for Palatine Boy, 5, Killed in Crash; Nearly $15,000 Raised for Family

Photo credit: Kobe Lewis Memorial Fund website

An online fund-raising effort for the family of Kobe Lewis, 5, has raised nearly $15,000 in two days.

Lewis died after being hit by a car while walking alone on Palatine Road. Lewis, who family members said was autistic, was walking near his home in the 1300 block of East Palatine Road when witnesses said he stepped into traffic on Palatine Road, according to the Chicago Tribune.

An online fundraiser has been set up to help cover funeral costs for Kobe and provide any additional support his family might need. Kobe is survived by his parents, Eugene and Keena Lewis, and six siblings, Karl, Shanti, Brianna, Keivon, Kameron, and Kaylen.

As of Thursday morning, the memorial fund has raised over $14,500.

“They need the communities help. There are no words to express how much the family will miss this little guy,” according to the online fund-raising page. “Please keep the family in your prayers and good thoughts.”

Kelly Hopkins, a Schaumburg woman, set up the fund-raising page, according to the Daily Herald. Hopkins’ daughter plays on the Fremd basketball team with Kobe’s sister, Brianna.

“We just have a really good support system through the girls basketball team,” Hopkins told the Daily Herald. ”Just to see our fellow families going through such a tragic time ... it was the least we could do.”

Please keep Brianna Lewis and her family in your prayers as they deal with the loss of a family member.

— Fremd G Basketball (@wfhoops1) June 2, 2015

Kobe was hit by a 2006 Hyundai Sedan that had just turned left onto eastbound Palatine Road from Winston Drive at 4:15 p.m. Monday, police said. Preliminary reports show the boy was not in a crosswalk and that he walked into the path of the vehicle, according to a Palatine Police Department press release.

The driver of the car, a 53-year-old Bartlett man, was not injured.

The boy was first taken to Northwest Community Hospital and then transported by helicopter to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The boy was pronounced dead at 1:38 a.m. Tuesday, according to the news release.

Funeral services have been set for Saturday at Wallace Funeral Home, 2020 Roosevelt Road in Broadview. A wake will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. and a funeral service will take place from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Donations can be made here to help support the family of Kobe Lewis.

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