Classmate remembered as investigation continues
BY ERIKA WURST AND DENISE CROSBY ewurst@stmedianetwork.com dcrosby@stmedianetwork.com October 24, 2012 3:44PM
Supporters hug outside of Faith Lutheran Church in Aurora where a vigil was being held for Devin Meadows on Wednesday, October 24, 2012. Meadows was killed in a car crash tuesday morning. | Brian Powers~Sun-Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: November 26, 2012 7:12AM
Some of the stories made them laugh.
Others made them cry. But all the memories shared at a prayer service Wednesday evening for Devin Meadows helped the Mustangs of Metea Valley High School remember just how special their classmate was.
Still wearing the clothes they had donned for a “white out” that day in school, hundreds of somber young mourners gathered at Faith Lutheran Church in Aurora in tribute to the popular 15-year-old sophomore who was killed in a car crash early Tuesday morning. The students quickly filled the church sanctuary and spilled into the narthex, where a sound system allowed the overflow crowd of students and adults to listen to these stories that helped explain why Meadows’ death hit so hard.
His friends talked about the young athlete’s skills in football, track and basketball. They talked about his charisma and sense of adventure. They talked about his sense of humor and kindness he showed toward others. And they talked about his mega-watt smile that seemed to never quit.
“He was the first person to go up to someone if they were having a bad day and say, ‘Hey, just smile,’” Metea Valley junior Taylor Walker had said earlier at the crash site, where flowers, balloons and candles were piled next to a white cross.
Investigation continues
Police expect charges could be filed later this week or early next week against the vehicle’s driver. Aurora Police Lt. Pete Inda said Wednesday investigators need to review more evidence and statements before they can present possible charges to the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office.
Meadows, of the 2500 block of Crestview Drive, was killed when a car driven by another 15-year-old went out of control, flipped over and then crashed into a home on Aurora’s far East Side.
According to police, Meadows and three teenage friends had taken the driver’s parent’s car without permission, and were out for a joy ride when the crash occurred. Police are still investigating what the boys were doing before the car smashed into a house in the 2700 block of Hamman Way at 1:43 a.m..
The driver, who did not have a license, was released Tuesday without charges.
Inda said all three of the survivors have made statements to police.
According to Aurora police, the three survivors suffered minor injuries. Although the car flipped in the air and ripped off a significant portion of the garage, none of the survivors had a broken bone.
Of the four occupants of the Chevy Malibu, Meadows was the only one not wearing his seat belt. He was the only one ejected from the vehicle. Meadows was thrown from the vehicle and into the street where he was pronounced dead.
