Ali Condon
A New Jersey student was tragically killed on the way home from her graduation in a horror car crash.
Lauren Hewski, 18, was a senior at St John Vianney High School, but had also been taking credits at Brookdale Community College's advanced program.
On Thursday (11 May), Lauren had been awarded her associates degree from the community college, but was killed later that afternoon in a car crash.
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Lauren was travelling back home at around 12.30pm when the Jeep Cherokee she was a passenger in hit a utility pole on Laird Road in Colts Neck and flipped over.
The student was pronounced dead at the scene, according to authorities.
The driver, an unnamed 17-year-old boy has survived the crash, but was transported to a nearby hospital with unspecified injuries.
Authorities in Monmouth County are now investigating what might have caused the Jeep to veer off the road, resulting in the devastating crash.
As of yet, no charges have been filed.
This coming fall, Hewski had planned to attend Syracuse University.
She was set to graduate from St John Vianney High School on June 3.
Lauren was the co-captain of her varsity soccer team, a member of a National Honor Society, and the former president of her school's student government.
Commenting on the devastating incident, David Stout, President of Brookdale Community College said the school were 'devastated'.
Mr Stout described Lauren as one of the youngest graduates of their program, which allowed advanced students to earn their associate degree while finishing high school.
He told the Ashbury Park Press: "We had just celebrated her success as one of our youngest college graduates at Brookdale’s morning commencement ceremony.
"Lauren was an incredibly intelligent and talented young woman who left an indelibly positive impression on all of her faculty and classmates."
The college also held a moment of silence on Friday morning (12 May) in honor of Lauren.
"Our hearts are broken at the loss of this precious young life - a life so filled with promise and possibilities," said Mr Stout.
"On behalf of the entire Brookdale 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."
Meanwhile, the principal of St John Vianney, Margaret Kane, said that the community had 'suffered a great loss', and remembered Lauren as a 'gifted student and athlete'.
"We ask for prayers and privacy for the family at this time," she said. "We also ask for prayers for our school community."