Issue date: 6/4/09 Section: News

Cameron Chana, 22, who died in a bus accident Saturday night, was a recent Eastern graduate and had planned to come back for graduate school. (Photo Courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Chana)

The visitation for Cameron Chana, 22, of Claredon Hills, will be held today from 2-9 p.m. at the Halloway & James Funeral Home in Countryside.

Chana, along with Justin Sleezer of Yorkville, was killed in a bus accident on Route 16 Saturday night.

The two men were in a group that was coming back to Charleston from a trip to Lake Shelbyville when the bus they were on, a 1975 Leyland double-decker from the Graywood Foundation, drove under the Route 16 overpass underneath I-57, traveling eastbound. The bus had stopped at the McDonald's in Mattoon before heading back into town.

John Protz, the driver of the bus, said that he managed to avoid the overpasses Saturday morning when he picked up the group, and the stop at the Mattoon McDonald's caused him to take a different route back to Charleston.

The overpass is comprised of two overpasses - one going northbound on I-57; one going southbound.

The accident occurred as he was driving under the overpass for the northbound side of I-57.

Protz said that he heard screaming and someone told him to pull over.

As he started to pull onto the shoulder, another person told him to take them directly to the hospital.

Protz drove to the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, and soon after a Mitchell-Jerdan ambulance was dispatched at the request of the Sarah Bush Lincoln emergency room.

Chana and Sleezer were reportedly standing on the upper level of the bus, facing away from the overpass moments before the accident. Both men died from severe head injuries.

The Mattoon police department was called approximately thirty minutes after the bus arrived at Sarah Bush Lincoln.

Dave Griffith, the Mattoon police chief, said that it's going to take some time before the investigation is complete because many of the people who were on the bus had left the hospital before the police arrived.

"(It's) going to take time to get everybody tracked down," said Griffith. "(We've) got to work with what we got."

Chief Griffith also stated that the investigation should be done or nearly done by late next week.

Robert Chana, the father of Cameron Chana, said he wants his son to be remembered for what he did.

"He's the benchmark for the word(s) 'wonderful,' 'giving,'" said Robert Chana.

In a letter the Chana family sent to their community, they said Chana had signed up to be an organ donor during his life and was able to make the maximum amount of donations.

"It gives us comfort to know that Cameron will be able to continue his life long efforts to help others in need," the letter stated. "Cameron's heart, lungs and liver will go to transplant centers in Chicago to bring life to several Illinois recipients; Cameron's pancreas will benefit an individual in Indiana; Cameron's kidneys will bring new life to two individuals who have waited for this gift; the surgeons will also harvest 70 different types of tissues, bones, corneas, etc., for many recipients."

Chana's obituary in the Chicago Tribune stated he had an active lifestyle in sports, family activities and the church.

"He was an active member of the youth group at Christ Church in Oak Brook since middle school, served on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic and Czech Republic during high school and recently gave a talk to the current high school group on college life."

Chris Thielk, one of Chana's roommates, remembers Chana as a good person that made everybody laugh.

"Our house is quiet without him," Thielk said. "(It's) just not the same. (It doesn't feel) complete."

Thielk and some of Chana's friends made a 19-minute video of Chana with photos and music that will be played at today's wake. Many of them, including Thielk, will be attending both the wake and the funeral.

"I'm still not quite believing it actually happened," said Thielk.

The funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Christ Church on 31st and York Road in Oak Brook. A memorial fund has been set up at the Clarendon Hills Bank - 200 West Burlington Ave, Clarendon Hills, in memory of Cameron.

There are two groups on Facebook where friends and family can share comments about Cameron. There is an online guestbook on legacy.com, which is in partnership with the Chicago Tribune.

Sarah Jean Bresnahan can be reached at 581-7936 or at deneic@gmail.com.

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