SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- A former Kennewick man who worked as a mechanical engineering assistant professor at Santa Clara University in California died Friday in a car accident. He was 27.

Daniel Strickland died when his car hit a deer, then was struck by another vehicle, according to a news release from the university.

He grew up and attended schools in Kennewick, graduating from Kennewick High School in 2002.

Strickland joined Santa Clara University's School of Engineering in 2010 to teach classes in thermodynamics and fluid mechanics.

His research interests were in affordable energy conservation with particular emphasis on mass transport and innovative fabrication processes in electrochemical systems.

Strickland had been a faculty adviser on senior design projects and was named a Roelandts Fellow with the university's Center for Science, Technology and Society.

A memorial service is planned for today at the university Mission Church, and a family service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, 950 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park.

Notes of condolences may be sent to his mother, Kerry Strickland and her partner Shawn Hays, and his father Rick Strickland at P.O. Box 1946, Vancouver, WA 98668.

Donations to a scholarship fund may be sent to the Daniel Strickland Scholarship Fund at Santa Clara University Development Office, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053.