By Art Barnum
A Glenbard West High School football player died today from injuries he received in a car crash last Friday.
Pierre Washington-Steel, 17, was pronounced dead at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, according to the DuPage County Sheriff's office.
Steel, a senior, was the driver of a car that hit a utility pole around 7:45 p.m., Jan. 29, at St. Charles Road and Swift Road in unincorporated Lombard.
Both Steel and Demarco Whitley, another Glenbard West football player injured in the accident, were running backs at the Glen Ellyn school. Whitley remains in the hospital in serious condition.
Photo: Glenbard West's Pierre Washington-Steel weaves past players. (William DeShazer / Tribune)
"The entire Glenbard West community is saddened to learn of the death of Pierre Washington-Steel, and we extend our heartfelt sympathy to his family," said Principal Jane Thorsen. "The West student body has been informed of this loss and out Student Services staff of available for anyone who may be in need of support."
The sheriff's office said that the DuPage County Accident Reconstruction Task Force is continuing their investigation into the accident. No cause for the accident has yet been given. Last weekend a candlelight vigil was held for the two students at Duchon Field, the school's football field, and was attended by about 500 people.
Washington-Steel was a transfer to the school this year from Driscoll High School, where he was on the football and track teams.
A press release from the school said that "Pierre was a well-liked young man, known for his smile, which was contagious and lit up the room. He continually had a good disposition. His focus was on helping others. In the short time that Pierre was at West he had a tremendous impact on the entire student body and administration."
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