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 A tragic accident claims the life of a well-liked teacher and coach in O'Fallon, Illinois.  

The Belleville News Democrat reports 33-year-old O'Fallon Township High School teacher Matt Seipp died Monday at St. Louis University Hospital after falling from a ladder on Sunday.

Seipp, who also owned Seipp Lawn Care LLC in O'Fallon, was well-known throughout the community.

The paper reports O'Fallon Police Chief John Betten says Seipp apparently died as a result of injuries after falling off a ladder Sunday. 

Betten said officers responded to a 911 call at 12:36 p.m. Sunday for a male victim with unknown injuries in the 800 block of Scott-Troy Road.

When officers and emergency workers arrived on scene, Betten said they determined the victim had fallen from a ladder while working in the garage and sustained injuries to his head. He was transported to Anderson Hospital in Maryville with the intent of meeting ARCH Air Medical Services there. Rainy weather prevented the crew from flying.

O'Fallon EMS proceeded to transport Seipp by ambulance to St. Louis University Hospital. A spokesman for the hospital declined to give Seipp's condition and referred questions to the family, which is standard policy when a death has occurred. Members of the immediate family could not be reached.

Seipp was a teacher in the industrial technology department at OTHS. He began his career at OTHS during the 2002-03 school year.

He also served as assistant baseball coach for the O'Fallon Panthers in 2003 and 2004.  Seipp is survived by his wife, Jodie, and infant son, Drew. Jodie Bell Seipp also works at OTHS as chair of the English Department.

Students, colleagues and friends of Seipp flooded Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites with tributes. 

Guidance counselors and social workers are available at O'Fallon Township High School for any student or employee needing assistance, according to Benway. Flags at all O'Fallon schools are being flown at half-staff in Seipp's memory, Benway said.

Funeral arrangements are pending at Schildknecht Funeral Home in O'Fallon.

 

   O'Fallon, Illinois Police aren't saying what prompted them to ask for help from the St. Louis Major Case Squad Sunday afternoon, only that a person was dead.  

   Police had been called to the victim's home in the 1300 block of Engle Court around 11:00 a.m. Saturday.  O'Fallon police are now calling the victim's death "suspicious."

   Major case investigators refused to comment on Sunday, but O'Fallon police say they expect to release more details on Monday.  

   The F.B.I. has taken over the investigation after metro-east authorities allegedly found bomb-making materials at a rural O'Fallon home.  

   The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department searched the home of an O'Fallon Township High School student using bomb sniffing dogs Wednesday afternoon.  There's no word what led to the search at the home in the 900 block of Scott Troy Road.  

   O’Fallon Township High School was locked down for about an hour and a half while the school was searched.  Police say the action was precautionary because there had been no threat against the school.  

   O'Fallon Police questioned a student who lives in the home where the bomb-making materials were allegedly found, along with several of his friends.  The student who lives in the home was arrested.  There's no word yet on charges.

A group of metro-east high school students will vie for the national title in the U.S. FIRST Robotics competition. Team 1208 from O'Fallon Township High School took first place in the weekend competition, along with its alliance partners Teams 3284 and 2408.

More than 40 teams from Missouri and four surrounding states participated in the event at the Chaifetz Arena.

The national championship competition will be held at the Edward Jones Dome in April.

This is the 24th year for the contest which is aimed at encouraging young people to be science and technology leaders.