Three DBU students killed in pickup truck accident

DALLAS—Three Dallas Baptist University students died in an early-morning one-vehicle wreck in southwest Dallas May 7.

The Dallas Baptist University campus community filled Pilgrim Chapel for a prayer service after a single-vehicle wreck claimed the lives of three DBU students. (DBU Photo)Will Smith of Bullard, Justin Schubert of Cleburne and Djorddje (DJ) Sarenac of Belgrade, Serbia, died after the pickup truck in which they were traveling overturned about a mile from campus and hit a utility pole.

Smith, 23, was a few days away from completing his junior year. He was a business information systems major who began classes at DBU last summer as a transfer student.

Schubert, 22, was a communications theory major. He also transferred to DBU and began classes there in the fall 2014 semester.

Sarenac, 19, was a math major who enrolled as a first-year student at DBU last fall.

“Our hearts and prayers are with the families of these students as our university mourns this heartbreaking loss,” a statement issued by DBU said.

DBU administration reached out to the students’ families “to provide love, support and encouragement in the midst of this tragedy,” the statement added.

Students, faculty and others gathered at 9 p.m. May 8 in Pilgrim Chapel on the DBU campus for a prayer service, and the university made grief counselors available.

The fatal accident marked the second tragedy in less than two weeks at Baptist General Convention of Texas-affiliated universities. On April 28, two East Texas Baptist University freshmen student-athletes drowned in an off-campus pond in Marshall.