Niles West Student Dies, Recent Grad Hospitalized After Crash

NILES TOWNSHIP, IL — A Niles West High School student died Wednesday in a traffic crash near the Harms Woods Forest Preserve, according to police and school officials.

Joshua Deac, 17, of Niles, was identified as the passenger in a car that was struck by a truck as it made a left turn from eastbound Golf Road onto Harms Road at an entrance to the forest preserve shortly before 2:15 p.m., according to the Cook County sheriff's and medical examiner's offices.

A moving truck was headed west on Golf Road when it collided with the passenger side of Deac's car, which was being driven by a family member. Police and fire personnel from nearby Morton Grove extricated both occupants of the car and rushed them to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, according to a sheriff's office spokesperson.

Deac was pronounced dead around 5:30 p.m. Following an autopsy the next day, the medical examiner's office ruled his death to be an accident caused by injuries from the crash.

The 18-year-old driver, a recent Niles Township High School District 219 graduate, was being treated for injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

The driver of the truck, a 60-year-old man, was not injured or issued any citations in connection with the crash.

Niles West High School Assistant Principal Antwan Babkhani notified staff of the death Thursday and said administrators would be offering grief support for Deac's classmates and any affected staff.

Deac's high school counselor, Stephanie Lau, said the Niles West junior had transferred to the district two years ago.

"Joshua was always respectful and kind and made friends easily. He had an interest in learning about business and elected to take business courses and liked cars," Lau said in a statement.

"He had potential to be a good leader and participated in the [Physical Education] Leaders program," she added. "He will be missed by his close friends and community and church."