Crime & Safety

UPDATED: Lincoln-Way Freshman Struck and Killed While Running in Forest Preserves

A teen was struck by a car and killed Thursday evening while running through the forest preserves.

Updated: 2:14 p.m. with information from Lincoln-Way East High School. 

Updated: 10:15 a.m. with information from the Cook County Sheriff's Office

Updated: 8:55 a.m.

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A teen boy was running through the forest preserves when he was struck by a car and killed Thursday evening.

The accident occurred on 104th Avenue and Route 83 around 5:15 p.m. in unincorporated Palos Township near the Cook County forest preserves.

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Patrick Mizwicki, 14, of New Lenox, was a student at and was participating in a cross country practice at the time he was hit.

Mizwicki was running eastbound on a horse trail through Teason Woods when he stopped to allow a southbound vehicle to pass. He then attempted to cross 104th Avenue, but his view of an oncoming northbound car was blocked by a car traveling southbound, according to a Cook County Sheriff's Office news release. 

The driver of the northbound vehicle, a 2007 Nissan Altima, hit her brakes but was unable to avoid striking Mizwicki, the release reads.  

He was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn by the North Palos Fire Department.

The driver of the car remained at the scene and cooperated fully with the investigation, according to the release.

She was issued traffic citations for failure to yield at a crosswalk and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. There are no further charges pending.

Social workers and grief counselors visited East classrooms Friday morning, meeting and talking with students about the sudden death of their classmate, said Stacy Holland, community relations director for .

"On behalf of the Board of Education, administration, faculty, staff, and students of Lincoln-Way, we want to extend our heartfelt sympathies to the family of Patrick Mizwicki. Patrick was a freshman at East, a member of the Cross Country Team, and the youngest of 8 children in his family. He was well liked and already had been involved in school activities," said District 210 superintendent Lawrence A. Wyllie, in a written statement.

A moment of silence for Mizwicki will be observed at the home football games for  and , Holland said. East will hold a moment of silence next week during its homecoming game against Sandburg High School. 

Members of the boys cross-country team texted each other early Friday morning and agreed to wear dress pants and shirts to honor Mizwiki and show team unity, said a mother of a cross-country team member.

There also is a Facebook memorial page for Mizwicki where friends and family can post remembrances and condolences. 

East's varsity cross-country team will compete in a meet Saturday in Peoria. 

Frankfort Patch local editor Joe Vince contributed to this report.


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