Officials at Trinity University identify students involved in fatal car crash last Friday

Two Trinity University students died in a car accident last Friday in Palo Pinto County about 65 miles west of Fort Worth, according to school officials.

The university identified the students Tuesday as 19-year-old Tyler Colvin and 20-year-old Rebekah Wendt, both of whom were part of the class of 2023.

The students were members of the Young Conservatives of Texas and were in North Texas campaigning for Jon Francis, a candidate for the Texas House of Representatives, according to a news release from the organization. The students were returning to their hotel after their shift ended around 6 p.m., when the accident happened.

Colvin was driving a 2016 Toyota Corolla east on FM 4 when he failed to yield the right-of-way and struck the passenger side of a 2016 GMC 3500 pickup traveling north on U.S. 281, the Texas Department of Public Safety said in an email to mySA.com.

Colvin was pronounced dead at the scene. Wendt later died from her injuries after she was flown by air ambulance to a hospital in Fort Worth, according to DPS. The condition of the driver of the GMC was not given.

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Colvin, a business major, and Wendt, who was majoring in history with a minor in architecture, were active member’s of the school’s chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas, a non-partisan youth group fighting for conservative values in Texas, according to its website.

“To know that not only two of my members, but two of my friends have passed away is heartbreaking,” said Nathan Darsch, Trinity’s YCT chairman, in a news release. “Both were fun, energetic and always looking to help those around them and they will be sorely missed. My thoughts and prayers as well as those from everyone at Trinity goes out to their families and any others affected by this tragedy.”

The university sent a letter to its students and faculty members on Sunday, writing that the loss of the two “bright lights” has dimmed its world.

According to the letter, Wendt was a member of Swing Bums (a group of swing dancers at Trinity) and participated in the Plunge, which is a five-day, pre-orientation mission event sponsored by Trinity’s Chapel Fellowships. Friends remember Wendt as outgoing, lighting up every conversation and bringing joy wherever she went, the letter said.

Colvin joined Alpha Kappa Psi, a co-ed business fraternity, in the fall of 2019 and was slated to serve as the service chair to Phi Sigma Pi, a national honor fraternity this upcoming school year. He was active in the Catholic Student Group and recently joined the polo club as a novice rider. Friends describe him as a warm, caring, intelligent individual who dedicated his time and energy freely to the people and causes he cared about.

Francis asked others to pray for the families of the students who were killed in the car crash, according to the YCT news release.

“Please join us in lifting up the families in prayer over the weeks to come,” he wrote. “As a Believer, I know that we were never meant to experience death. Today is a painful reminder that until the Resurrection, we will still see death come far too soon for many. Hold your loved ones close. I know I am today.”

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | [email protected] | @CillaAguirre