Two Oxford Township residents, Larry Parraghi and Julie Wilde, are dead following a two-vehicle crash Monday night on Ray Rd. between M-24 and N. Oxford Rd. by the high school.

Parraghi, 43, was the father of one student at Lakeville Elementary, a developmental kindergartner who was in the vehicle at the time of the accident, and a close figure in the life another student, a third-grader.

“There’s just a lot of sadness,” said Kristy Gibson-Marshall, principal of Lakeville Elementary.

“Our prayers are with (the family), of course. We’re going to be here to help in any way that we can . . . If it’s a ride to the hospital that they need, I’m going to take them to the hospital. If they are in need of some bill coverage, we’ll figure out a way to collect some money.”

Gibson-Marshall is especially concerned about the two children Parraghi leaves behind.

“The little guy is so close to his dad. We’re worried about him,” she said. “We’re just going to have to keep an eye on those kiddos – make sure they’re okay.”

Wilde, 43, was the mother of two Oxford High School students, a freshman and senior.

“Our heart goes out to (the family),” said OHS Principal Todd Dunckley. “We’re going to support them any way we can . . . We’ll be here (in) any way they need us.”

The accident occurred at about 8:29 p.m. when a 2003 Chrysler Town and Country minivan rear-ended a 2004 garbage truck that was stopped in the roadway, according to information released by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

A 50-year-old Metamora man was driving the garbage truck when it experienced mechanical difficulties while heading west on Ray Rd. As a result, he had to stop the vehicle in the roadway.

It was then struck from behind by the westbound minivan driven by Parraghi, who was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office.

The minivan had three passengers in addition to the driver.

Seated behind Parraghi was Wilde, who was transported to McLaren Oakland hospital in Pontiac where she was later pronounced dead.

A 32-year-old Lapeer woman, who was in the front passenger seat, was also transported to McLaren Oakland.

“She was going to be released this afternoon,” said Gibson-Marshall on Tuesday.

A 5-year-old boy, seated behind the front passenger seat, was taken to Royal Oak Beaumont hospital. He’s since been released, according to Gibson-Marshall.

Parraghi and the injured 32-year-old Lapeer woman are the parents of the 5-year-old boy, who is the developmental kindergartner at Lakeville mentioned earlier in the story. Wilde was a friend of the two.

The driver of the garbage truck sustained only minor injuries and was transported to Crittenton Hospital in Rochester Hills as a precaution.

According to the sheriff’s office, Parraghi was not wearing a seat belt. Whether or not the passengers were wearing seat belts was unknown at the time the information was released.

The crash remains under investigation, but at this time, there are no indications that alcohol or drugs were a factor.