A local fraternity wants to help the families of two University of North Texas graduates who died in a vehicle accident in Fort Worth last week.

The accident happened in the 1800 block of U.S. Highway 287, when Mireya Soto, 22, drove her sport utility vehicle into a guardrail at about 3:30 a.m. June 13, which caused the vehicle to roll down an embankment, according to Fort Worth police.

Soto’s passenger, Alex “Pachuco” Casildo, 25, was ejected from the vehicle.

Both died on impact from the accident, according to the medical examiner. Fort Worth police are investigating the cause of the accident.

And now, fraternity brothers of the UNT chapter of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity Inc. are reaching out via a social networking Web site to gather funds to help the families of both Soto and Casildo.

Casildo was part of the 2004 Kappa line of the Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity Inc. at UNT, according to fraternity member Michael Paredes, 23, a junior.

“We wanted to do something for his family because it was very unexpected,” Paredes said. “As a chapter, we are going to donate money, and we wanted to make it easier for the families.”

Friends of Casildo describe him as a happy person, someone who liked to dance, enjoyed playing the piano and had applied last week to teach high school.

“People knew him — he was of strong character, and everyone got along with him pretty well,” said his friend Eddie Cantú.

“Our fraternity chapters are small in numbers, but somehow we got 35 brothers out to the funeral,” Cantú said. “He was very loved by everyone.”

A funeral for Casildo was held in his hometown of Mount Vernon on Wednesday.

“I never saw him get mad and always had a smile on his face,” UNT student Jackleen Rios said. “He always tried to make everyone feel better.”

Paredes said members of the fraternity’s chapters across the country plan to donate.

Rios, a member of UNT’s Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc., said her organization will donate as a chapter to the fund.

Rios said members of UNT Multicultural Greek Council are planning a fundraiser to help the victims’ families.

Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo location.

KARINA RAMÍREZ may be reached at 940-566-6878. Her e-mail address is kramirez@dentonrc.com .