Services set for Aurora students killed in Rochelle crash
Funeral arrangements are set for two Aurora Central Catholic High School students who died in a car crash, while a third student injured in the accident remains hospitalized in serious condition.
Family members of 16-year-old crash victims Allison P. “Ally” Bradford of Aurora and Seth E. Egger of Montgomery will hold separate visitations Sunday, March 15, at Dieterle Memorial Home in Montgomery.
Both students were killed Tuesday evening when the SUV they were riding in did not stop at a red light in foggy conditions and collided with a semitrailer truck.
The driver of the SUV, 17-year-old Jared Friedrich of Aurora, remains in serious condition at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, a hospital official said Thursday afternoon.
Ally's visitation is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Dieterle Memorial Home, 1120 S. Broadway Ave. Seth's visitation is scheduled for 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the same location.
Ally's funeral is set for 1 p.m. Monday at St. Rita of Cascia Catholic Church, where she attended kindergarten through eighth grade, at 750 W. Old Indian Trail, Aurora. Internment will follow at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery.
She is survived by her parents, Curt and Dianna Bradford, and her older brother, Robert Kuptz, along with three grandparents and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Family members remembered Ally for her passion for sports, including softball, volleyball, basketball and track, as well as her love of music and country concerts.
Seth's funeral is set for 10 a.m. Monday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, where he attended preschool through eighth grade, at 85 S. Constitution Drive, Aurora. Internment will be private.
He is survived by his mother Jacqueline Egger, his sister Miranda Egger, two of his grandparents, his great-grandmother, two uncles, an aunt and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Dennis Egger, who died in 2003 at age 34.
Family members remembered Seth for his “zest for life” and for making every stranger an instant friend. He also loved sports and had “a larger than life personality,” according to his obituary.
Seth and Ally both were passengers in an SUV carrying six Aurora Central Catholic students to a regional basketball playoff game at Rochelle High School when the crash occurred about 5:55 p.m. on Route 38 at Dement Road, state police said.
Three other Aurora Central Catholic students who were passengers in the SUV — Liam Doyle, Cori Dahl and Hannah Bradford — escaped major injury.
The school began selling $7 T-shirts Thursday to benefit the families of Ally, Seth and Jared. Family members of Ally and Seth also set up fundraising websites on gofundme.com to raise money for funeral expenses.
Ally's site had raised $19,805 of its $20,000 goal by 5:30 p.m. Thursday, while Seth's site had topped its $25,000 goal by raising $30,685.