An 18-year-old New Jersey student set to head off to university was killed in a horror crash on the way home from her graduation.
Lauren Hewski was a senior at St John Vainney High School in Holmdel, New Jersey, while also studying at nearby Brookdale Community College as part of an advanced programme for high school students.
Just hours after receiving her associate's degree from the community college on Thursday, May 11, she was killed in a devastating crash.
Lauren was on her way back home to Matawan, travelling as a passenger in a Jeep Cherokee being driven by a 17-year-old boy when the car hit a utility pole, flipping over on Laird Road in Colts Neck at around 12.30pm.
Emergency services rushed to the crash, however Lauren was declared dead at the scene. The driver of the Jeep has not been identified due to his age.
It's believed he suffered unspecified injuries and was transported to a local hospital, though the state of his condition remains unknown.
Now, Monmouth County authorities are investigating the crash - trying to work out what caused the Jeep to veer off the road. So far, no charges have been filed.
President of Brookdale, David Stout, said the college was "devastated" by the tragedy. He said Lauren was one of the youngest graduates of the programme - which allows students to earn an associate's degree while simultaneously finishing high school.
Having received her associate's degree, Lauren was due to graduate from high school on June 3. She was set to go to Syracuse University later this year.
"We had just celebrated her success as one of our youngest college graduates at Brookdale's morning commencement ceremony," Stout said.
"Lauren was an incredibly intelligent and talented young woman who left an indelibly positive impression on all of her faculty and classmates."
On Friday morning, May 12, the college held a moment of silence at 8.30am in her memory, according to Stout.
"Our hearts are broken at the loss of this precious young life - a life so filled with promise and possibilities," he said.
"On behalf of the entire Brookecale community and our Board of Trustees, we extend deepest condolences to Lauren's parents, family, friends, classmates, [St John Vianney] family, fellow [St John Vianney] Early College graduates, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing her."
St John Vianney principal Margaret Kane described Lauren as a gifted student and athlete, a member of the girls soccer team, and said her death was a "great loss" to the school community.
"We ask for prayers and privacy for the family at this time," Kane said. "We also ask for prayers for our school community."
Friends remembered her as smart and disciplined, saying she was a "kind, beautiful and intelligent" young woman.
Lauren was co-captain of the varsity soccer team, a National Honor Society member, and former president of the school's student government. School counselling staff, mental health clinicians and administration have been made available for those in the community in need of support following Lauren's death.
