A car accident early Saturday morning involving a Fox Lake police officer resulted in the death of NIU student Randy Varno, sophomore business major.

Danny Schroeder, 24, and a former NIU student, also died in the vehicle Varno was driving.

The Fox Lake Police Department declined to comment on the case.

On Sunday, the Daily Herald posted on its Web site that Varno and Schroeder were hit by Fox Lake police Sgt. Mark Schindler after pulling out on Route 12 in Fox Lake.

Lake County sheriff’s police, who are handling the investigation told the Daily Herald that investigating the accident could take a while. The police also said the two key points being examined are how far in advance Schindler turned on his lights and how much alcohol Varno drank.

Kristen Artl, a sophomore finance major at NIU, knew the two individuals and described them as “fun guys.”

“They liked everybody, everybody liked them,” Artl said.

Artl recalled fond memories of her and the two men going out to parties.

“We got together toward the beginning of the school year,” Artl said. “That was the last time I saw them.”

In their obituaries, both men were described as avid sports fans.

Schroeder was a coach for the Round Lake Park District football teams and they had the goal of opening their own sports bar.

Schroeder’s funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Justen’s Round Lake Funeral Home, in Round Lake.

Varno’s service will begin at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Justen’s.