ORONO — More than 500 people gathered for a memorial service at the University of Maine Tuesday night to honor three fraternity brothers killed in a plane crash.

Members of the university’s Greek community, students, faculty and staff packed an auditorium to remember the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity brothers – 22-year-old David Cheney of Beverly, Mass., 24-year-old Brazilian exchange student Marcelo Rugini and 2011 graduate William “B.J.” Hannigan of Portland.

Authorities say the three were killed when their single-engine plane clipped a pickup truck during takeoff at the Knox County Regional Airport in Owls Head on Nov. 16th.

Meanwhile, school leaders commended fraternity members Tuesday night for how they’ve reacted to the tragedy.

The Bangor Daily News reports after the service, the crowd moved outside for a candlelight vigil.


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