Plum graduate killed in accident

Richard Shook was known for his leadership throughout his career at Plum High School and was ready to take it to the next level, in the Air Force.

But, how far he could have gone as a leader will never be known.

The Plum teenager was killed early Thursday morning when he ran a red light and his SUV collided with a tractor-trailer in Monroeville, police said.

"He was a very friendly kid who always looked on the bright side," said Dawn Check, spokeswoman for the Plum School District. "He was a member of the JROTC and was really looking forward to his career in the military."

Shook, 18, was driving northbound on Mosside Boulevard/Route 48 at 2:54 a.m. when he hit a tractor-trailer turning left from a westbound lane of Route 22, said Monroeville assistant police chief Doug Cole.

The Allegheny County medical examiner pronounced Shook dead at the scene.

Shook, who graduated June 6, was a four-year letterman on the high school wrestling team and a member of the football team.

Plum wrestling coach Chuck Frohelich said other members of the team looked up to Shook.

"He was a good kid," Frohelich said. "I worked with him for four years and he and I worked out together a lot. He was a bright kid and definitely was going somewhere in life."

Check remembers seeing Shook working out Wednesday evening at the high school track, several hours before the accidednt. She said he was preparing to take the Air Force special operations test on Monday.

Cole said police are awaiting autopsy results and other details before closing the investigation. The autopsy is scheduled today. Police don't anticipate issuing any citations against the truck drive, Cole said.

Police are unsure how fast Shook was traveling at the time of the accident, but said he was at or above the speed limit.

"All who knew him are deeply saddened by his death and the tragic loss of such a nice person," Check said.

"It is a very sad situation," Frohelich said. "For a parent, or anybody, to go through something like this is a sad situation. He was a bright kid."

A memorial displaying American flags was erected Thursday night at the scene of the accident. A vigil in Shook's memory will be held at 8:30 p.m. today in the Plum High School parking lot .

Francine Garrone can be reached at fgarrone@tribweb.com.