Faith Academy Student Killed While Running

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.