Funds Raised for Funeral of Teen Killed in Skateboarding Accident

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — An area teen who would have soon started his senior year at Buffalo Grove High School died over the weekend when he fell from a skateboard while holding onto a moving vehicle in Arlington Heights. Levi Matsudo, 17, "lit up a room" when he walked in and had an infectious smile and personality, Victoria Kalyviaris, of Arlington Heights, wrote on a GoFundMe page set up to raise funds for Matsudo's funeral.

And just 24 hours after the GoFundMe went live, funds have been pouring in with $8,500 raised for Matsudo's family as of late Monday night. The teen was killed Saturday night in the 4100 block of Ridge Avenue in Arlington Heights after suffering a severe head injury, authorities said. An investigation by police revealed he was riding a skateboard and holding onto a 2015 Honda Pilot when he "separated from the vehicle" and fell to the ground, according to Arlington Heights police.

A juvenile was driving the Honda and stayed at the scene until police and paramedics arrived. Matsudo was taken to Northwest Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead an hour later by emergency room physicians, according to a news release from the Arlington Heights Police Department.

Matsudo is being remembered by classmates at Buffalo Grove High as smart, funny and popular, the Daily Herald reports. A memorial was set up at the crash scene over the weekend and friends left flowers and framed photos.

"He was funny. He made everyone laugh," Jason Dedes, a friend, told the Daily Herald. "That's something that you can hear from anyone. He was a great kid. It's really sad to see this happen to him. I wish I could be able to see him again."

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

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