Three University of Illinois graduates were killed early Sunday morning after their car flipped over the median on Interstate 57, slamming into an incoming van.

Charisse R. Hartzol, 22, of Hazelcrest, Ill., Ramadan K. El-Amin, 23, of Chicago Heights, Ill., and Michael Edwards, 25, of Chicago were driving north to the Chicagoland area following a Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity party held on campus Saturday to celebrate the new pledge class of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. The driver of the southbound van – Edward T. Gaines, 62, of Monee, Ill. – was also killed, while the two passengers in the van were injured and sent to a nearby hospital. Two people in a third vehicle, which ran into a ditch on the west side of the interstate after trying to evade the accident, were not hurt.

El-Amin graduated from the University last May and had enrolled in the doctoral program at the University of Illinois-Chicago with a fellowship.

Oliver Hatchett, junior in communications, said he knew all three alums and that he was close friends of Edwards and El-Amin, whom he met his freshman year. He said the deaths greatly affected the African-American community, especially the upperclassmen.

“It’s a situation that has opened a lot of people’s eyes and help them realize how precious life is,” Hatchett said.

Arthur Scales, president of the University chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, said his fraternity was especially saddened by the loss of El-Amin and Edwards, who had joined the fraternity together in the fall of 2000. Scales said that he feared the driver or one or more passengers might have fallen asleep behind the wheel, causing a loss of control of the vehicle.

The Black Greek Council at the University is holding a memorial service for the three University victims at 8:30 tonight in room 112 of Gregory Hall.

The Council forwarded an e-mail to its members on Monday that stated, “the tragic death of our three former students has left many of us feeling an extreme amount of grief. Please join the council in remembering the joy these students brought to our lives and help each other make it through these very difficult times.”

Hatchett said the death of the three alumni will bring the African-American community together.

“God is in control of every situation,” Hatchett said. “He has a purpose for everyone, and we have to look at the positives of this situation. This event will help unify the African-American community.

“At times like this, it is very important to continue to pray. These prayers will get us through this difficult time.”