Comments (...)(MCT) — Carl Sandburg High School officials are mourning the loss of the high school's athletic director who was found dead Sunday afternoon after a single-vehicle accident in Carroll County.
Bruce Scheidegger, 54, had been reported missing at 11:07 p.m. Saturday and was found in his vehicle by a Carroll County Sheriff's deputy at 12:16 p.m. Sunday, sheriff's officials said.
Scheidegger was traveling northbound on Loran Road, when the vehicle he was driving drove over a steep embankment and overturned, the Carroll County Sheriff’s department said in a news release.
A sheriff’s deputy located his car off of Loran Road and Indian Trail Road, near his second home in Lake Carroll in Carroll County, officials said.
Scheidegger, whose main home was in Orland Park, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Carroll County Coroner’s Office, the statement said.
School administrators expressed their condolences Sunday at the passing of Scheidegger.
"I know I will remember Bruce as a kind, compassionate and dedicated friend and colleague who always had the best interest of students and staff at heart," Sandburg Principal Julia Wheaton said in a statement. "He will be deeply missed here at Sandburg and by all he came into contact with through the athletic community."
School officials have a crisis team available for classes on Monday to help students and teachers, according to a District 230 statement.
Scheidegger joined Sandburg High School as the Athletic Director in 2007. Before taking on that roll he coached golf, boys basketball, girls basketball and golf, according to the Sandburg High School website.
He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and two master's degrees from Western Illinois University, the website said.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all who love Bruce, most especially his wife, Debbie, and their children Samantha, Kristin and Molly," District 230 Superintendent Dr. James M. Gay said in a statement. "Bruce will be remembered as a compassionate educator and outstanding administrator. He will be sadly missed by the Sandburg, District 230 and the athletic community."
The Carroll County Sheriff’s Department began the investigation after receiving a call Saturday evening from the Orland Park Police department that Scheidegger had been reported missing, according to authorities.
It is not clear when the accident occurred, but the incident remains under investigation.
