A recent preparatory school graduate was struck and killed by a train coming from the opposite direction of the tracks just minutes after he left church.
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he → strike → church
Tomassino Offer, 18, tragically died when an eastbound Union Pacific freight train crashed into him at about 10.30am on Sunday in Wheaton, just west of Chicago.
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train → die → Chicago
A Metra spokesperson said they saw Offer attempt to cross the tracks after a train passed, but he was completely unaware that another train was headed towards him from a different direction.
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train → say → direction
The Reverend of St. Michael Catholic Church said he spoke to Offer moments before the accident.
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he → say → accident
'I definitely saw him before he left, and he just waved at me, and together with his friend Joe, they were here together, and who would have known that was the last time he'd be in church,' Rev Santos Castillo said.
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Castillo → see → church
Castillo said the college freshman and his friend left the church and headed to Chicago.
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freshman → say → Chicago
The reverand told ABC7 that the freshman moved from his hometown in Michigan to Illinois to play baseball for Wheaton College.
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freshman → tell → College
He came here very diligently every Sunday to worship with us.
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He → come → us
Didn't talk a lot, but he was here, and he prayed
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he → talk → ?
,' said Castillo.
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Castillo → say → ?
Tomassino Offer, 18, died after an eastbound Union Pacific freight train crashed into him on Sunday at about 10.30am
A recent preparatory school graduate was struck and killed by a train coming from the opposite direction of the track while he was leaving church
Organizers were able
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Organizers → die → church
'There's so many things we don't understand about this life, and so we need our faith to help us navigate through these difficult times when you don't see the bigger picture, so they need to hold onto their faith now even more,' Castillo said.
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Castillo → be → faith
Offer's high school, the Notre Dame Preparatory School in Pontiac, Michigan, released a statement in his honor, saying: 'Tomassino Offer was an outstanding student and an even better young man.
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Offer → release → honor
He was loved by his teachers and classmates and had many friends, including his soccer teammates with whom he won a state championship, and his baseball teammates.
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he → love → championship
The Preparatory School made a Facebook post addressing the incident, writing: 'We mourn his passing, hold his family close in our hearts, and pray that they find comfort and strength in the love and support of the NDP community.'
The post also stated: 'Tomassino had a bright future filled with promise, and he possessed a kind heart that touched those around him.'
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that → make → him
A mass was held on Monday at Saint Lawrence Catholic Church in Utica, Michigan, in his honor.
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mass → hold → honor
The event allowed for his friends, family and loved ones a place to grieve.
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friends → allow → place
Wheaton College also held a separate memorial on Sunday night.
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College → hold → night
Rev Santos Castillo (pictured) told ABC7 that the freshman moved from Michigan to Illinois to play baseball for Wheaton College
The Reverend of the Catholic Church spoke to Offer moments before the accident
Wheaton College also held a separate memorial on Sunday night
A mass was held on Monday at Saint Lawrence Catholic Church in Utica in his honor
St. Lawrence Church, Notre Dame Prep and Keller Williams Lakeside set up a GoFundMe account 'for friends and loved ones to honor Tomassino’s memory and express their love for the Offer family-a gesture of togetherness from a community that holds them close.'
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them → picture → community
The website states: 'Above all, we want the Offer family to know they are loved and are not walking through this alone.
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they → state → this
If you feel moved to give, your kindness is deeply appreciated.
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kindness → feel → ?
'Your prayers, messages of love, and sharing of this fundraiser are equally meaningful ways to support them.'
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prayers → support → them
Organizers were able to raise over $45,000 in a day to help support the Offers family.
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Organizers → raise → family
The Daily Mail reached out to the Chicago Police Department for comment.
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Mail → reach → comment