By Colin McEwen
Record-Courier staff writer
Alex Kost, 17, of Atwater was remembered Wednesday as a hard-working student at Maplewood Career Center in Ravenna, an all-league athlete and a loving son after a crash took his life Tuesday in Edinburg.
At the site of the accident on Industry Road, just south of Camp Road, teenagers slowed down in their vehicles for a somber look at the location where their classmate's life came to a tragic end.
Alex's mother, Liesa Kost, said it's been a difficult time for the family, as she held back tears remembering her son.
"He was awesome," she said. "He was a straight-A student -- he did it all -- soccer, racing, bowling. He was a very special boy."
She remembers her boy who never drank or smoked a cigarette in his life. She recalls his kindness and politeness to all, even strangers.
"He was very special, everybody's friend," said Mrs. Kost. "I can't say enough good about my son. I know he's in heaven."
Alex Kost was studying power equipment mechanics at Maplewood Career Center, where he excelled and was well-liked. He had hoped to work at the family business, Atwater Nursery -- the place where Alex was driving to when the crash occurred.
Mike Page, Kost's teacher, said the students are struggling with the loss of their classmate.
"He was the nicest kid you'd ever want to know," said Page. "He was my best student -- at the top of his class.
"We're all going to miss him."
Kost was named the Most Valuable Player on the Waterloo Vikings' boys soccer team. He also was named First Team All-County Division as a midfielder for the 2008 season. He earned the same honor in 2007.
Nick Hulea, the principal at Waterloo High School where Kost attended school for two years, remembered him as a "great student."
"Obviously, this been a real tough time for our students," he said, adding that counseling is available for students. "We'll get through this as a Waterloo family."
Lt. Michael Marucci, commander of the Ravenna post of the Ohio Highway Patrol, said the crash still is under investigation.
He said a garbage truck had stopped southbound on Industry Road, partially on the roadway, as the driver made a trash pickup at a resident's home near there.
A 1985 Chrysler LeBaron, driven by Kost, was approaching the truck from the rear when he lost control of the car, striking the left rear of the truck, pushing it off the right side of the road and into a nearby ditch, according to Marucci.
He said rescue workers performed CPR at the scene, but it was too late. Kost was transferred to Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna where he later died.
The refuse truck operator, Christopher J. Conrad, 23, of Atwater was not injured.
"We hate to see anybody die as a result of traffic crash," said Marucci. "But when you have somebody who is only 17, to have something like this happen so close to the holidays, it's tough for us, and it's tough for the family."