Friends gathered Sunday night in memory of John Kirksey III, a UK freshman they described as positive and constantly smiling.

Kirksey, 19, died at UK Hospital early Saturday morning after an accident on Blue Grass Parkway. During a memorial service Sunday, about 50 people gathered in Kirwan III in his memory.

“He was just excited about living life,” roommate Terry Cunningham II said. “ … He would bend over backwards to help people. It’s just crazy that he isn’t with us anymore,”

Kirksey went off the road and when coming back onto the road struck a guardrail at about 4:30 a.m. Saturday, according to the Versailles Police Department.

After being flown to UK Hospital, Kirksey died of multiple blunt force trauma in the operating room, according to the Fayette County Coroner’s Office. There is no indication that drugs or alcohol were a factor in the accident.

At the memorial, friends wrote notes to Kirksey’s parents on note cards, which they planned on sending with a photo album.

Friends also wrote messages on balloons with Sharpies, which they then released in the South Campus courtyard.

“We are sending these notes to God,” nursing freshman Rebekah Dailey said before the group released balloons.

Dailey said she would remember her friend as someone who was joyful and had love to share.

“He has made such a tremendous impact on this campus in such a short time,” she said. “I know he would do the same thing for me without even thinking about it.”