ENGLEWOOD — A group of students from Englewood are coming home after they were involved in a tragic accident in Uganda that killed a suburban Chicago film director and activist.
The students, who had traveled to Africa with David Steiner, got help from an emergency GoFundMe set up after the accident Monday.
“It is absolutely heartwarming and faith-in-humanity-redeeming to see so many people step up in a time of need to help this wonderful group,” campaign creator Chris Cesca said.
Steiner, 51, an Evanston resident who owned a property management company in West Town, had been traveling with his son, a film crew and students from Barbara A. Sizemore Academy, who worked with him on a documentary on their school last year.
Two eighth-graders and two adults suffered non-life threatening injuries in the crash, ABC7 reported. Steiner was the only one killed.
The group was in Uganda for the Nile Diaspora International Film Festival to screen the documentary about saving the school from closure. They left Chicago last week. While in Uganda, the plan also was to start work on a second documentary, this one about Sudanese refugee children.
They were in a bus with 17 people when it was hit by a "reckless driver," and they rolled into a ditch, film crew member Sarah Giroux, of Chicago, said in a Facebook post.
The group was making a five hour trip to a small village called Mbali, Giroux told DNAinfo in a Facebook message Tuesday night.
"I've witnessed the wrath of death tonight," she wrote.
Immediately after the crash, as they were "laying incapacitated," she posted, "some of our bags were raided, all of our money was stolen."
"We are all sad, traumatized, shocked, but right now, are staying strong and suppressing any strong emotion from overtaking our judgment," she told DNAinfo.
Wesley Knott, a close friend of Giroux, contacted her Monday night.
“Sarah is a pretty strong person,” he said. “I couldn’t hear the intonation in her voice, but she has always been calm, cool and collected, so I’m sure when everything went down, she sprung into action to ensure the well-being of the team.”
Giroux later said the group had bought tickets and was returning Wednesday to the U.S.
"We had an overwhelming amount of support from friends and family in USA, Israel, and Uganda," she said. "That helped expedite the process of getting home."
She said any money left over would help a South Sudanese family with five children on the bus who sustained severe injuries.
Although he didn’t know Steiner, Knott said he was a well-respected cinematographer and that his heart goes out to those who knew him. In addition to making documentaries, Steiner ran Steiner Properties and Third Eye Mediation.
“We’re all pretty shocked of the death, but relieved that Sarah and the rest of the team came out of [the accident] OK,” Knott said. “There are mixed feelings.”
Cesca, another friend of Giroux, said he wanted to create the GoFundMe because that was the best and quickest way for people to help the group.
“I can certainly appreciate the sentiment of prayers and good vibes, but sometimes there has to be a more tangible action taken,” Cesca said.
In addition to helping those who survived the crash, the GoFundMe will help Steiner’s family with funeral expenses.
Documentary success
Earlier this year, seventh- and eighth-graders were working with Steiner to help share their story. They started working on the documentary, “Saving Barbara Sizemore: The Movie,” in October 2015.
“The purpose of the movie is to give these guys a voice,” Steiner said at the time. “If CPS isn’t going to come to the school, then we’re going to bring the school to them.”
Betty Shabazz-Barbara A. Sizemore Elementary ultimately was not closed. It moved from 6936 S. Hermitage Ave. to 6547 S. Stewart.
In a statement, Betty Shabazz International Charter Schools said it was “extremely saddened” to learn of the death of one of its “committed school volunteers.” It called the death tragic.
“Our sincerest prayers and condolences are extended to the entire Steiner family, particularly his wife Diane and his father Joe. David was a rare cinematographer who loved our school and sought the goodness in all humanity. We will miss him," the charter school said.
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