Prep Baseball Report

Glenbard West's Washington-Steele dies in crash



Pierre Washington-Steele, an athletic three-sport standout from Glenbard West HS, died Thursday morning, six days after he was involved in a car crash. Washington-Steele was 17.

Another student injured in the one-car crash, Demarco Whitely, remains hospitalized in serious condition. The crash occurred on Friday, January 29, around 8 p.m., when the teenagers’ car hit a utility pole. On Sunday night, hundreds of students from the Glen Ellyn school held vigil to pray for their recoveries.

Washington-Steele was one of the top athletes in the Class of 2010. He first starred in track, football and baseball at Driscoll Catholic HS, where he earned a state finish in the 100 meters as a sophomore. When Driscoll Catholic closed down last spring, Washington-Steele transferred to Glenbard West.

In the fall, Washington-Steele was the football team’s star running back, as he helped lead the Hilltoppers to a runner-up finish in Class 7A. On the baseball field, Washington-Steele was a dynamic, athletically gifted switch-hitting outfielder.

As of Thursday, DuPage investigators have yet to release information about the possible cause of the crash.