Tyler Montgomery, 19; his girlfriend, Alexis Banuelos, 18; and their friend Brian Herrera, 19; were killed when the car they were in was struck by a semi tractor-trailer on Route 126 at Schlapp Road in far west suburban Unincorporated Kendall County on June 4. Tyler and Brian were pronounced dead at the scene. Alexis died a short time later at the hospital.
"He was the most giving person, touched so many people's hearts," Mike Montgomery said of Tyler, who wanted to become a music producer. "Alexis was a doll. And Tyler and her, they loved each other very much. And if there was any grace of God it was the fact they went together."
Alexis wanted to be a social worker, according to her parents, Ricardo and Raquel Banuelos.
"She was a happy, fun loving, lived her life to the fullest young lady, who was taken at a very young age. The only consolation I have is she died with two people she truly loved," Ricardo Banuelos said of his daughter.
The families mourned together on Tuesday.
"I keep opening the door and just waiting for my son to come back," Armando Herrera said. "The semi was coming, and what I'm thinking is Brian was saying, 'I will make it.' And he couldn't make it, you know. That's what I tell my wife, 'Why couldn't he wait a couple more minutes?'"
The driver of the semi was not seriously injured.
Officials say there have been at least nine accidents at this intersection in the past 3 years.
