St. Clair County school district loses a teacher in a crash for the second time this month

Mike Koziatek
·2 min read

For the second time this month, East St. Louis School District 189 is mourning the loss of a teacher who died in a crash.

DeMario May Jr., 25, who taught at James Avant Elementary School in East St. Louis, died Tuesday following a motorcycle crash, according to St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. and the school district.

Earlier in the month, Crystal Bounds, who was a 39-year-old kindergarten teacher at Dr. Katie Harper-Wright Elementary School in East St. Louis, died when she and her brother, Harvey McGee, were fatally struck by a vehicle on Interstate 170 in North St. Louis County, according to District 189 and a report by KSDK-Channel 5 in St. Louis. The accident happened May 6.

May, of Washington Avenue in St. Louis, was in a motorcycle crash at the intersection of Collinsville Avenue and Broadway in East St. Louis, Dye said. Other details about the crash were not available.

May was pronounced deceased at 1:03 a.m. Tuesday at Touchette Regional Hospital in Cahokia Heights, Dye said.

“Mr. May was a beacon of light that shined brightly,” District 189 Superintendent Arthur Culver said in a statement. “Our fervent prayers are with his family, friends, students and colleagues.”

On May 8, the district posted a Facebook message about May as part of National Teacher Appreciation Week. May attended District 189 schools and graduated from East St. Louis High School in 2015. He received instruction from teachers who still work in the district.

“I choose to teach at James Avant Elementary School because it is my responsibility to make a difference in my community,” he wrote in the post. “It is also my responsibility to be a positive example for my students as a product of School District 189.”

District 189 spokeswoman Sydney Stigge-Kaufman said Avant Elementary classes are not in session this week but summer school is scheduled to begin Monday, and social and emotional support will be available for students affected by May’s death.

“The District 189 Crisis Team has been activated and is offering support to students and staff this week and beyond. To receive support, please email info@wraparoundwellnesscenter.org and provide your phone number,” the district said in a statement.

The statewide Safe2Help Illinois is another resource available to youths:

  • Call: 844-4-SAFEIL

  • Text: SAFE2 (72332)

  • Email: HELP@Safe2HelpIL.com