Aaron Dunigan was the star quarterback, Thornton Fractional North High School’s prom king and expected to enroll in Southern Illinois University in the fall.
But all of those plans were derailed when Dunigan was killed in a car crash on the night of his senior prom, days before the 18-year-old’s high school graduation.
Dunigan and his friend Mike Crowter were getting a ride from another teen, who was under the influence of marijuana, on the night of the incident. The teen crossed a median and crashed into another car, killing 56-year-old Juan Rivera, a Metra employee, who was on his way to work.
Mike Crowter survived the crash but with injuries. He graduated in a wheelchair.
To honor her son, his mother, Katherine Jackson, donned Aaron’s cap and gown and walked across the stage in her son’s place.
Jackson told NBC 5, “[My son] knows his mom walked the stage. I’m going to be his legs and he’s going to be my wings and we’re going to go up there and get our diploma.”
The teen driver has been charged with DUI causing death and reckless homicide with a motor vehicle.
Jackson found the act of attending her son’s graduation and interacting with his classmates to be therapeutic in dealing with the loss of her son.
“My son has left a piece of him inside of all of them and every time I hug one of them, I get a little piece of my baby back.”
