Bart Kelly met Tze “Jerry” Siau for the first time last semester.

“He’s an all-around good guy,” said Kelly, junior in chemical engineering. “A fun guy to be around.”

Siau, senior in chemical engineering from Malaysia, died early Friday morning after he lost control of his 1997 Dodge Neon while driving west on Lincoln Way.

Ames Police Department officials said the vehicle collided with a light pole on the north side of the road in the 2400 block of Lincoln Way. They were notified at approximately 1:45 a.m.

The accident is still under investigation.

Kelly said he met Siau after a chemical engineering class after he transferred to Iowa State.

The two guys started doing homework together, and eventually began hanging out.

“Jerry was just a really nice guy,” Kelly said. “He was always willing to lend a helping hand. A good friend.”

Jeff Smith said he met Siau two years ago.

“He was kinda shy,” said Smith, junior in chemical engineering. “He never really complained of anything. He was just a happy guy. He had no worries.”

Brent Shanks, associate professor of chemical engineering, was Siau’s academic adviser. Shanks said Siau was “well-liked.”

“He did have friends other than Malaysian students,” Shanks said. “Jerry had friends from a number of different backgrounds.”

He said Siau chose chemical engineering for “typical” reasons.

“He enjoyed chemistry and math and the combination of those,” Shanks said. “He hadn’t quite reached the point where he had decided what area of chemical engineering interested him.

“I think he was still trying to figure that out.”