Feb. 29--Lake Forest High School students and officials still reeling from the death in January of a student struck by a Metra train had to go through the same thing Tuesday following a second fatality.
Freshman William Laskero-Teskoski, 15, was fatally struck near the 1400 block of North Western Avenue, not far from the high school.
After classes let out Tuesday afternoon, sophomore Megan Manning voiced what many were feeling.
"It's tough because we were just getting over the last one," said Manning, 15, about the death Jan. 9.
Laskero-Teskoski was struck around 7:25 a.m. by a train going to Chicago from Kenosha, according to a Metra spokesman. He died at the scene, said Lake County Coroner Artis Yancey.
The teen, who was on the football team and ran track, was well-liked, said Principal Jay Hoffmann.
"He was a hard worker in class, a great asset to our football team and a budding track star coming to us after a successful track career in junior high. Will's contributions in the short time he was at LFHS will remain a part of our history. He will be missed."
Hoffmann emailed a letter to parents Tuesday morning telling them Laskero-Teskoski had died.
"It is with great sorrow that I share the news that one of our students, William Laskero-Teskoski (Class of 2015), was hit by a Metra train early this morning and has died," Hoffmann said in the letter. He also thanked parents for their "continued support of all our students and each other."
"We send our deepest sympathies to the family as the LFHS school community mourns this loss," Hoffmann said.
Less than two months ago, Hoffmann sent out an almost identical letter about the Jan. 9 death of sophomore Farid Hussain, 15, who was also struck by a Metra train.
According to Lake Forest Deputy Police Chief Glenn Burmeister, Hussain was struck more than a mile south from Tuesday's collision. Burmeister said police don't believe they are connected.
Yancey said the coroner's office is investigating Tuesday's incident.
Hoffmann said social workers and counselors met with students Tuesday and would be available throughout the week.
Sophomore Maddie Wells, 15, said the news about the death had already spread throughout the student body before the school made an announcement during last period.
"Some of the kids had heard about it from their parents, and they came to school talking about it in first period. A lot of the parents take that train to work," said Wells.
"I think this is a real tragedy. It's hard on the whole school."
Brooks Berish, 15, was in the same grade as Laskero-Teskoski but said he didn't know him.
"But a lot of people were crying today about it. People were saying he was really cool," said Berish.
His brother, Brandon, a junior, knew exactly how many days it had been since the earlier tragedy.
"We had another one just 50 days ago," said Brandon Berish, 17. "It's such a surprise. It's like Oh my God. It happened again."
Copyright 2012 - Chicago Tribune
