2 killed in crash on I-80 in Tinley Park, Illinois, identified as Tyler Koscinski and Mason Santiago; were close friends since elementary school

TINLEY PARK, Ill. (WLS) — Two young men were killed in a traffic accident on Interstate 80 in the southern suburbs early Sunday morning, Illinois State Police said.

ISP said the accident occurred on I-80 westbound between La Grange Road and Harlem Avenue in Tinley Park just before 4:30 a.m.

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Police said an SUV was traveling westbound when it collided with a semi-truck. The two men killed had been friends since elementary school, their families said.

They were identified as Tyler Koscinski, who had just turned 20, and his friend Mason Santiago.

“Oh my God, he's just the light. The light of our lives,” said Koscinski's mother, Kelly. “He's a phenomenal brother, athlete and just a crazy, funny boy who loved everybody.”

Koscinski loved baseball and even played for a year at Aurora University to plan his next step in life.

“He wanted to be a physical education teacher maybe. And then a coach,” said father Chris Koscinski. “He just didn't make it, that's all.”

The two were on their way home from St. Xavier University, where Santiago went to school and was on the football team, when they were killed.

“They were best friends,” Kelly Koscinski said tearfully.

According to the family, Santiago and Koscinski met in third grade and did everything together from then on.

“They were crazy guys together. They had fun together, dancing and competing against each other,” Kelly said. “He was like one of us here.”

ABC7 reached out to the Santiago family, who said their son lived with great passion and love for everyone and they sympathize with the Koscinskis in light of their shared loss.