Kingsville students plan vigil after deadly crash

Feb. 27--Two Texas A&M University-Kingsville students who died on their way to a student government conference in College Station had hopes of making a difference in their university and community.

Ebenezer Oloba, 23, and Oscar Fuentes, 19, were traveling north on U.S. Highway 77 about 2:10 p.m. Saturday when the vehicle they were in veered off the roadway just before the San Antonio River Bridge and crashed into the river.

Witnesses saw the car leave the road, which was about 20 miles north of Refugio, and called authorities, according to the Victoria Advocate. A dive team was dispatched to the river and found the car.

Oloba and Fuentes were found inside, Department of Public Safety officials said.

"They were so driven and so passionate and they really wanted to take care of their community," David Barrera A&M-Kingsville Student Government Association president said.

Barrera said every year TAMUK SGA chooses two members to attend the Conference on Student Government Associations in College Station.

"We chose for them to go to the conference this year because we always focus on the growth of our members and they showed that initiative," Barrera said.

Oloba, who was a chemical engineering major, had been an SGA member for more than a year. He was an advocate for social justice and helped coordinate a forum called Clashing Values.

The forum would be focused on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals deportations, President Donald Trump's travel ban and university policy. The event was slated for Tuesday at the university but has been postponed since the wreck, Barrera said.

Fuentes was a liberal arts major, according to university officials.

He'd only been a member of SGA for two semesters and quickly became involved in community outreach and organized a trip to Austin for a coalition conference.

"Oscar was so organized, very effective, so driven and just so full of life," Barrera said. "He was a freshman and was already involved in community activities. He was ready to work and it felt so good to see him grow."

A candlelight vigil is planned Tuesday in honor of the students.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Ebenezer 'Tosin' and Oscar," Teresa Riley, senior vice president for student affairs, enrollment management, and university administration, stated in a Facebook post, Sunday. "We know that they were very involved in the campus community and well-liked by everyone."

The vigil will be at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the university in front of the Javelina Statues on University Boulevard, Kingsville. In case of rain, the service will be in the Ballrooms in the Memorial Student Union.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation, DPS officials said.

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