Services Set For Wilmington Teens Killed In Crash

Youngest victim laid to rest Friday

Family and friends say their final farewells Friday to a teen killed this week in a horrific crash in southwest suburban Wilmington.

Matthew Bailey, 14, will be laid to rest today. Visitation was held along with a video tribute Thursday in Wilmington.

Bailey was the youngest of four teens who died when the car they were in slid off a bridge into an icy creek in Will County. The others were identified as Cody Carter, 15; Cheyenne Fender, 17; and Michaela Sembach, 15. Services for the other teens will be held over the weekend.

Visitation for Carter begins at 11 a.m. through 1 p.m. March 16 at the R.W. Patterson Funeral Homes, at 401 E. Main St., in Braidwood. His funeral follows at 1 p.m.

A memorial visitation for Fender takes place from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Anderson Memorial Chapel, 606 Townhall Dr. in Romeoville.

Students at Wilmington High School wore black Wednesday in honor of the teens.

"I was really shocked and I didn't really know what to think because I grew up with Cody. I was always at their house and everything. It's just a shocker," student Corey Harper said.

Authorities had been searching for the group since one family reported their child missing late Monday. Police were called to the creek around 7:30 a.m. after a school bus driver reported a broken guard rail and a wheel sticking out of the water.

Water on the road may have contributed to the crash.

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