Jaime Davila was hospitalized with critical injuries following a May 16, 2023, crash at Dundee Road and Schoenbeck Road in Wheeling which left four of his fellow Buffalo Grove High School classmates dead. | Provided Photo

A Buffalo Grove High School student has a “long recovery ahead” after he was critically injured in a crash that killed four of his fellow classmates and friends in Wheeling.

Jaime Davila was hospitalized in the intensive care unit following the May 16 crash.

“This has been really hard for our family, the families involved, and foremost our community as a whole,” his sister Brenda Davila said. Davila has a “long recovery ahead of him.”

“We appreciate everyone that has reached out and continues to offer their help,” the sister said.

A GoFundMe account has raised almost $28,000 for the family to help with their expenses.

The crash involved three vehicles at Dundee Road and Schoenbeck Road in Wheeling.

Multiple occupants were trapped in the vehicles, police said. Eight ambulances were called to the scene.

Firefighters extricated four victims and transported a total of seven victims to local hospitals. Four victims died in the crash.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified three of the four as Jesus Rodriguez, 16, of Wheeling; Richard De Ita, 18, of Wheeling; and Kevin R. Hernandez-Teran, 17, of Wheeling.

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The Lake County Coroner’s Office identified the fourth victim as Ricky Barcenas, 17, of Arlington Heights.

Left to Right: Ricky Barcenas, 17, of Arlington Heights; Kevin R. Hernandez-Teran, 17, of Wheeling; Jesus Rodriguez, 16, of Wheeling; and Richard De Ita, 18, of Wheeling, died following a three-vehicle crash at Dundee Road and Schoenbeck Road in Wheeling on May 16, 2023. | Provided Photos

Rodriguez, De Ita, Hernandez-Teran and Barcenas were occupants of the “primary vehicle,” police said. Davila was also in the vehicle.

Township High School District 214 confirmed that the four teenagers were Buffalo Grove High School students.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of these students during this time of tragedy. We also offer condolences to all Buffalo Grove students, families and staff members,” the school district said.

Brenda Lorenzo, the mother of Barcenas, said her son leaves behind two siblings and was a “wonderful son who helped everyone and was a very hard worker.”

“I couldn’t have asked for a better child. He meant so much to me and everyone else in his life,” Lorenzo said.

A fundraiser for Barcenas’ family has raised over $40,000 to help with funeral expenses.

Angelina Gomez, Rodriguez’s sister, said her brother was loving and worked hard to help their parents.

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“I do not have the words to tell how much he will be missed,” Gomez said.

A fundraiser for Rodriguez’s family has raised over $29,000 to help the family.

A high-speed crash involving three vehicles and a utility pole at Dundee Road and Schoenbeck Road in Wheeling left multiple victims trapped and four dead on May 16, 2023. | Photo: Max Weingardt

Elena Salgado, an aunt of Hernandez-Teran, said her nephew was the man of the house after losing his father when he was five years old.

 

“He was loved by everyone growing up, and always made sure to be there for his Mother and siblings. He left behind his brother Alexis, sister Natalia, mother Aracely, stepdad Jose, Grandmother Evelia, and Grandfather Bartolo,” Salgado said.

A fundraiser for Hernandez-Teran’s family has raised almost $27,000.

De Ita’s mother, Brenda De Ita, said her son was “one of the sweetest” and “most loving and hard working young boys.”

“He loved enjoying life and bringing a smile to others, but most importantly he loved his family. He was just 1 week away from his high school graduation when he tragically passed away,” she said.

A fundraiser for De Ita’s family has raised over $28,000.

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A visitation was held last Saturday in Mt. Prospect for Barcenas followed by a funeral mass on Monday in Des Plaines.

A visitation was held Monday for Hernandez-Teran in Wheeling followed by a funeral mass on Tuesday.

The visitation for De Ita was held Monday in Des Plaines and a mass took place Tuesday morning.

A high-speed crash involving three vehicles and a utility pole at Dundee Road and Schoenbeck Road in Wheeling left multiple victims trapped and four dead on May 16, 2023. | Photo: Max Weingardt

Funeral arrangements for Rodriguez were not made public.

Speed and a disregarded traffic signal appear to be the primary factors involved in the crash, police said.

One of the vehicles involved struck an electrical pole and caused a power outage in the area.

The Northwest Suburban Major Case Assistance Team’s Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction unit along with Wheeling police crash investigators were on the scene recovering evidence and investigating.

Wheeling social service workers have been involved and are working with the families “as they begin to process this terrible event,” police said.

Wheeling Police Chief James Dunne said he extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased.