University officials said the black Mitsubishi that crashed at Jenny Lane was registered to Hanquing Wu and said they believe he was driving.
Initial reports suggest that the car was northbound on Mad River before it veered off the right side of the road, struck a tree and burst into flames, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
Both victims were trapped and died at the scene at 12:15 a.m. Sunday, the coroner’s office said.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Monday evening, students, faculty and staff came together in the Kennedy Union Ballroom on campus for prayer and support. Staff from the university’s Center for International Programs, Campus Ministry, and the student counseling center made themselves available to grieving students.
“It definitely helps because we can support each other,” said junior Yilun Zhao, who knew both students. “I can’t imagine how their hearts were shattered,” he said of the families in China.
Information about funeral arrangements and a more formal on-campus memorial service will be announced.
Also Monday evening, a vigil was held near the site of the accident.
More than 450 Chinese students are enrolled at UD, said Amy Anderson, director of the Center for International Programs.
Hanquing Wu, who was in his second year, and Zhongyi Xu, a first-year student who arrived in Dayton in July, lived in Marycrest Hall, but were not roommates.
Their families are from Jiangsu Province, but Anderson did not know if the men were friends before coming to the university
Assistant Provost Weiping Wang, who is in China on university business, notified the students’ families of the deaths in person, Anderson said.
Staff Writer Tom Beyerlein contributed to this report.
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