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LIVE BLOG: Updates on Hurricane Milton

University Says Goodbye To Four Students Killed In Car Crash

John O'Connor
/
WUSF

Wearing black shirts and green ties, members of Sigma Beta Rho fraternity said goodbye to Imtiyaz "Jim" Ilias, Jobin Kuriakose, Ankeet Patel and Dammie Yesudhas Thursday at the University of South Florida.

The four men were killed in a collision early Sunday morning when their car was struck by a driver going the wrong way on Interstate 275.

Family and several hundred USF students were in attendance, many wearing their own Greek letters.

Patel's sister, Krupa, says his fraternity nickname fit.

"'Facetious' is the perfect word to describe Ankeet," she said. "He was always joking around. He was witty and very knowledgeable...He was the light of my family's life."

Words failed others. Jeremy Yesudhas turned to his brother's ukulele.

"He loved this thing," Jeremy said before performing "Over the Rainbow."

Credit John O'Connor / WUSF
/
WUSF
Students hand out candles at Thursday's memorial service for four USF students killed in a car crash.

Yesudhas said it was one of Dammie's favorite songs.

University of South Florida president Judy Genshaft announce the four students will be awarded degrees at spring graduation.

"We can draw strength from their inspiration and in doing so honor their memory," she said. "We also honor these young men by awarding them the degrees that they worked so hard to earn at the University of South Florida."

Yesudhas will earn degrees for engineering and math. Patel and Ilias will earn bachelor of science degrees. Kuriakose will earn a bachelor of arts degree.

 

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