Penn State student Brian Ebright died on his way to a job interview in Philadelphia after losing control of his car on the Pennsylvania Turnpike last month. He was 22 years old.

One of his roommates, Mark Ficco (senior-biotechnology), said he thought Brian Ebright was probably swerving to avoid a deer.

"I just can't understand how he could lose control like that unless he was steering clear of something," Ficco said.

At least eight points of impact were found on Ebright's car after it hit the median and guardrail several times.

The accident occurred in Downingtown and shut down the highway for several hours, according to the Pennsylvania State Police. Police added that it is unknown why Ebright lost control of the vehicle.

Friends and family say that since he was young, Ebright loved to travel and had seen every state but Alaska.

As a senior finance major, he had hopes of working at a major financial firm after he graduated, his father Paul Ebright said.

"He was starting to make the transition to
post-college," his father said. "He was looking forward to a job and was already scheduling interviews."

Ficco said he met Brian Ebright during their freshman year and said he had been a loyal friend throughout college.

"If I had to use one word to describe Brian, it would be honest," Ficco said. "He was just such a happy person and everyone loved him."

Brian Ebright, who grew up in a small town outside Hershey, loved watching college sports, especially Penn State football, and spent much of his winters skiing.

The Ebrights drove across the country each summer and camped along the way.

"He had a map up in his apartment of every state he'd been to," Paul Ebright said. "He's always loved travel; he's had the same world map hanging up in his room since he was 3."

Brian Ebright also spent time this summer studying abroad in Europe along with another roommate Rick Tutich (senior-accounting).

"We lived together for the past year and a
half, and it had been so much fun," Tutich said. "Everyone he came in contact with instantly liked him."

Tutich said returning to school after the holiday break without Ebright has proven difficult for him and his roommates.

"There is definitely a big piece of us missing," he said. "The apartment will never be the same."

Paul Ebright said that when his son left school for winter break, he was looking forward to seeing his family and old friends.

Unfortunately, he was only home for three days.

"He was excited to experience his last break before the end of college," Paul Ebright said. "It was cut short, but I know he enjoyed every moment of it."