Faith Academy Student Killed While Running

Alabama Mobile  Students at Faith Academy in West Mobile are dealing with the death of one of their classmates.
by Jessica Taloney
Published: Fri, November 13, 2009 - 4:03 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, November 13, 2009 - 6:29 pm CST
MOBILE, Alabama - Students at Faith Academy in West Mobile are dealing with the death of one of their classmates.

Mark "Mac" Chatom, 15, was killed around 6:15 Thursday night when he was hit by a truck. Chatom, who was training for a marathon, was running with a friend along Cody Road when he was struck. The friend was just a couple feet behind him but was not hurt.

"He's greatly missed today," said Coach Lloyd Skoda, Faith Academy's baseball coach, who remembers Chatom's humor and his faith. "You see kids coming down the hall, but there is not a word spoken."

Faith Academy principal Kindra Mason describes the sophomore as a teenager who "loved the Lord."

Extra counselors were brought in Friday to talk to Chatom's classmates, but this is not Faith Academy's first taste of tragedy. In January, Dillan Odom, a 13 year old seventh grader, died in an ATV accident.

Services for Chatom will be held Monday at Life Church on Tanner Williams Road. Visitation begins at 11am, and the funeral will begin at 1pm. Chatom will buried at Indian Springs Cemetery.

Mobile police are investigating Chatom's death, but investigators do not believe the driver of the truck was under the influence of any drugs or alcohol. No charges have been filed.


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Keep these families in your prayers.

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Why was he running in the dark on a pedestrian-hostile street? Was there not a safer place to run? If all Mobile has to offer for runners is unsafe streets then we are in dire need of pedestrian corridors. Unfortunate accidents like this will continue to happen as long as runners risk their lives by running in traffic. Was this young man briefed on the dangers of running in traffic by his coach? Was he on the right-of-way when struck? We owe it to Mac to answer these tough questions and prevent any more deaths.

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There is a rumor that he left the scene for 10 min’s then came back. This may be true but I find it hard to believe because he is just not that type of person.

If in fact he did leave tells me at first he didn’t realize what he had hit since it was dark, but coming back to check to see if he did in fact hit someone sounds like the kind of person he is.

Just from what the news video shows it looked like Mac was possibly running on the white line but it was hard to tell so I am not saying that is for sure where he was.

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I know what you are saying BB….....I know from personal experience,as one who runs/walks on the road (because there are no sidewalks), you always run/walk against traffic to see what’s coming, and I always take to the ditch(or least well off the shoulder)with oncoming traffic. It’s scary to run with traffic, in daylight,much less in the dark.

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No doubt it is a tragic accident, but what happened?  Did the driver veer off the road for some reason?  Was the kid running in the road?  Did oncoming lights blind the driver?

The only way to prevent these type accidents in the future is to know what happened in this case.

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Good point mob1. I am sure that the driver is devastated as well. My thoughts and prayers to he and his family also. A tragic accident for all involved.

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Hi, I just wanted to say something before any wild rumors are started about the man driving the truck. He is not known to do Drugs anything else, I only say this because those that know him have never known him to use drugs or anything.
As far as a cell phone he does own one but nothing has been said either way of him using it at that time.

I know this does not bring this young man back or makes the situation different but I will say that the driver of the truck is very upset and distraught about what has happened.

All I ask is please do not come to conclusions about the drivers creditability before hearing facts. He is a very well respected individual and very well liked by all that know him. I can not share any details frankly because I do not know any at this time and very possibly may not ever know since those that know him will not ask until he is ready to talk about it publicly.

Thank You
MOB1

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This is so very sad. My niece runs cross country for FA, and I know all the students are feeling the loss of this fine young man. My thoughts and prayers to the family, friends, and FA community.

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How sad!  Any idea what happened?  Did the truck just veer off the road and hit Mac?  Was a cell phone involved?

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