OSWEGO -- The names of the victims involved in a fatal car crash in Oswego Tuesday night have been released.
Five men in their 20s, all from Oswego, were in the car when it smashed into a utility pole near the Oswego Speedway.
Three of the passengers were pronounced dead at the scene; Robert L. Senke, 25, Justin M. Purdy, 24, and Antonio Mendez, 28.
Two other passengers, 26-year-old Donald M. Odin and 22-year-old Jeremy W. Tassie were taken to Upstate Medical Center with injuries and are expected to recover.
Police say Senke was driving at the time of the crash. The car is registered to Odin.
Police say a preliminary investigation indicates that all of the men had consumed alcohol prior to the crash. Speeding may have also been a factor.
The group of men had reportedly just left Tassie’s residence and were headed to apartments on City Line Road when they crashed.
East Albany Street between East 13th Street and City Line Road was closed for several hours Tuesday night while the investigation was underway.
Renee Ferlito was in tears as she described the close bond between the men. She said all three of the men who died had young children and the loss would be devastating.
"There's so many memories. You've just got to remember all the good things about them and not all this," said Ferlito.
Jackie Bruce’s children were friends with the men. "I know a lot of the young kids around the Oswego [and] Scriba area, knew the kids really well. It's just a total loss for their parents, their families," she says.
Friends say a vigil will be held tonight to remember the victims of the crash. It will take place at 8:00 at the crash scene on Jim Shampine Drive.
