Students En Route to High School Basketball Game Killed in Crash With Tractor-Trailer

Two Aurora Central Catholic High School Students on their way to a school basketball game died Tuesday evening after their vehicle collided with a tractor-trailer in far west suburban Rochelle, an Illinois State Police official and school administrator said.

The Illinois State Police said six people -- two 17-year-olds and four 16-year-olds -- were in a white 2005 Acura SUV that was heading westbound on Route 38. The driver -- one of the older students -- failed to stop for a red light and crashed into the southbound tractor-trailer that was attempting a left turn, according to police.

Heavy fog was present at the time of the crash.

"Last night, two ACC students were killed in a car accident on the way to a school basketball game. This is a huge loss for the families of our school and the larger ACC community," a school secretary said in a statement read to NBC Chicago on Wednesday morning.

While the Illinois State Police early Wednesday confirmed the fatalities, the connection to the school was first reported by the Kane County Chronicle.

"Our condolences are with the entire Aurora Central Catholic High School Community and the families and friends of the two young Chargers who passed away in such a tragic car accident last night," Aurora city officials later said in a statement. "We've talked with many members of the ACC family throughout the night, and we join together as one supportive community as we mourn the loss of these two bright lights gone too soon."

Egger family, Bradford friend

Seth E. Egger, 16, of Montgomery, the front seat passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene, ISP said. He died of blunt force trauma to the head, according to the Ogle County coroner’s office.

The driver and Allison P. Bradford, 16, who was in a backseat, were both transported to Rochelle Hospital. Bradford later died of blunt force to the head, neck and chest, according to the coroner's office, while the driver was transferred to St. Anthony's Medical Center in Rockford. Three others in the vehicle refused treatment.

Bradford, who was sitting on the left side of the backseat, was the only student who was not wearing a seatbelt, officials said.

The driver of the truck, 56-year-old Aleksander Smolcic, of Des Plaines, was not injured.

The driver of the SUV, a boy, was cited for failing to stop for the red light.

The Aurora Central Catholic High School basketball team -- the Chargers -- took on the Marengo Community High School Indians in the IHSA Sectional Basketball competition.

Family and friends of Egger and Bradford have set up GoFundMe pages to help cover funeral expenses for the students. The page for Seth Egger can be found here and Allison "Ally" Bradford here.