A University of Wisconsin senior was killed in a car accident on his way to work Sunday afternoon on Madison’s near east side.

UW senior Melissa Janssen was Dylan Ellefson’s roommate and said his mother informed her about Ellefson’s death this afternoon.

She said Ellefson was on his way to work at the time of the accident.

According to the incident report from the Madison Police Department, officers responded to a two-car accident with life threatening injuries on the 1400 block of East Johnson Street around 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

Madison Fire Rescue transported Ellefson to a nearby hospital where he later died, according the report.

Ellefson’s friends and roommates set up a Facebook group in his memory.

UW senior Will Jacoby studied abroad in Spain with Ellefson last semester and said he found out about Ellefson’s death when the Facebook group was started.

Upon seeing the group, Jacoby said he searched the Internet for anything relating to an accident and found an article on the Wisconsin State Journal’s website.

He then messaged Janssen via Facebook to find out whether it was true, only to call her and find out it was.

“I couldn’t believe this is real,” Jacoby said.

Ellefson, 21, was majoring in Spanish education. Janssen said he was in UW’s School of Education and was close to completing his degree.

“His friends miss him an awful lot,” Janssen said. “He’s a really great guy.”

As of press time, 232 people joined the group on Facebook remembering Ellefson, posting memories of Ellefson, disbelief and final words.

Lt. Joey Skenandore said Sunday night that MPD was releasing minimal information because the investigation is ongoing. More information would be released when the investigation is complete, he said. Those who may have been witnesses or have more information about the accident are asked to contact MPD at 608-266-5981.

A UW spokesperson was unaware of Ellefson’s death when contacted by The Badger Herald, but said UW would offer any information it had sometime today.