Northeastern Illinois University Students Killed in Texas Crash

Two Northeastern Illinois University students were killed Friday after they were involved in a car crash during a road trip through Texas.

The students, Victor Maldonado, 18, of Chicago, and David Roman, 23, of Mundelein, were killed when the car they were in struck an 18-wheeler on U.S. Highway 54 Friday morning, according to Texas Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Shannon McLaughlin.

Maldonado was pronounced dead at the scene and Roman was pronounced dead at Northwest Texas Hospital, McLaughlin said.

Three other people in the vehicle --David Rubio, Thomas Kyle, and Seth Amofa-- were taken to Northwest Texas Hospital where their conditions were stabilized, officials said.

All of the students in the car were members of the Omega Delta Phi fraternity at NEIU and were on their way to Tuscon, Ariz. for a conference for their fraternity.

"It brings great sadness for the Beta Alpha Chapter of Omega Delta Phi Fraternity Inc. to inform everybody that our fellow brothers have passed away," a statement on the fraternity's website read. "These two stand up young men were on their way to a conference in Tucson, AZ. Today we are asking for your help as their families go through this difficult moment in their lives."

Family members are struggling to bring the bodies of the two students back to Illinois.

The Beta Alpha chapter of the fraternity set up a fundraising page to help the families with the financial expenses. They set a goal of $40,000 on gofundme.com, but note that transportation costs to bring the two home will be an estimated $18,000.

The fundraising page calls the two students "stand up young men" and thanked supporters for the "showering of love and support."

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