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Benefit planned for 5 NSU students killed in crash

Posted at 6:40 PM, Sep 19, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-19 19:47:17-04

TAHLEQUAH -- A benefit has been set up to help the families of five teens killed near Tahlequah.

It hasn't even been a month since school started at Northeastern State University.

College is a chance to make new friends and figure out the next phase of our lives, but five freshman didn't get that chance.

Five white roses sit on a statue for five beautiful faces. The sun is hidden behind the overcast sky. It's a somber day on campus.

"I couldn't imagine being a parent and coming and packing up their entire life," NSU student Darien Ball said.

Sunday night's crash took the life of five Northeastern State University freshman.

"Some of them being from so far away might not have traveled back home after saying goodbye to their parents," Ball said.

Meanwhile across town, the hostess at Chili's remembers one of the victims, 18-year-old Donovan Caldwell.

"He always knew how to make people laugh and he always cared about people and cared a lot about friends and family," NSU student Makenzie Cumbey said.

The popular restaurant is holding a benefit for the victims families in every hometown of the five students.

"It's just something you don't see coming and it's tough and hard for people to handle," Chili's assistant manager Ryan Bates said.

Five faces in five black frames sit on a table in the student center. There's a pen ready to write a message.

"They were only here for a short while but they definitely left their mark," Ball said.

It's a message that friends say the five friends will look down and see.

The give back event is Wednesday at seven different Chili's.

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