A single car accident in the western suburb of Lombard claimed the life of NIU student Kyle Kacirek.

Kacirek, 26, was the passenger in a car driven by his friend, Adam Smith, 24, that hit a tree at what police called "an extreme speed," according to the Chicago Tribune’s April 16 article.

The accident occurred shortly before 1 a.m. April 15 on residential Maple Road. Both men died instantly.

Kacirek was a senior English major at NIU. His long-time friend Rich Cummings, a junior English education major, described him as very intelligent and upbeat. He was always having fun, Cummings said.

Cummings also described Kacirek

as caring, especially when it came to his family.

"He has very dedicated to his parents," Cummings said.