Sebastian Stone was just an ordinary twenty-three-year-old guy from Hammond with his whole life ahead of him. He was the kind of person who could make anyone laugh in a split second. People knew him as a thoughtful son and a fiercely loyal brother. On a typical Wednesday morning, nobody could have guessed his journey would cut short so soon.
It was still dark outside when Sebastian walked out of his house on June twenty-fourth. He had a regular commute ahead of him, driving out to his job over in Elk Grove Village. Like anyone else heading out to earn a paycheck, he was just focused on getting through the morning traffic and starting his shift.
Right before he hit the road, Sebastian caught up with his mother, Beth. They had a quick, sweet phone conversation about thirty minutes before everything went sideways. Looking back, his mom feels incredibly grateful for that brief moment. It gave her one last chance to hear his voice and tell her boy that she loved him.
As he drove down Interstate 80/94, things took a bad turn near the Torrence Avenue exit in Lansing. Sebastian noticed a major issue with one of his tires and knew he could not keep driving on it. He did exactly what any responsible driver would do. He pulled his car over onto the westbound shoulder to fix the flat.
He got out of the vehicle and started working on the tire in the dim early light. It was just before five-thirty in the morning when the unthinkable happened. Out of nowhere, a passing vehicle veered onto the shoulder and struck Sebastian at full speed.
The person behind the wheel did not stop to help or check on him. Instead, the driver pressed down on the gas pedal and fled the scene, leaving a young man dying on the side of the highway. By the time emergency crews arrived, there was nothing they could do to save him.
The sudden loss has absolutely shattered Sebastian’s family. His sister, Jordan, is completely heartbroken but wants to turn her pain into a warning for others. She is begging drivers to slow down and move over whenever they see a car stranded on the shoulder. She wants people to realize that the person on the side of the road could easily be their own son or brother.
Now, a community is stepping up to help the family handle the crushing weight of funeral expenses. An online fundraiser has taken off to give Sebastian the beautiful goodbye he deserves. His friends and family remember him as the absolute best guy you could ever have in your corner, and they are doing everything they can to support each other through the dark days ahead.
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