New Jersey student, 18, bound for Syracuse University killed in horrific crash on way home from earning associates degree while attending high school
- Lauren Hewski, 18, was taking college courses at Brookdale Community College while attending St John Vianney High School
- She earned her associate’s degree from the community college on Thursday and was on her way back home when the car she was in hit a utility pole
- Hewski was pronounced dead on the scene, and the 17-year-old driver was transported to a local hospital with unspecified injuries
A New Jersey student who was set to attend Syracuse University in the fall was killed in a horrific crash on her way home from her graduation.
Lauren Hewski, 18, was taking college courses at Brookdale Community College while also attending St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel as part of an advanced program for high school students.
She earned her associate’s degree from the community college on Thursday and was on her way back to her Matawan home when the car she was a passenger in hit a utility pole and flipped over on Laird Road in Colts Neck at around 12.30pm.
Hewski was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver of the Jeep Cherokee — an unidentified 17-year-old boy — suffered unspecified injuries and was transported to a local hospital. His condition remains unknown.
Monmouth County authorities are now investigating what may have caused the fatal crash, but so far no charges have been filed.
Lauren Hewski, 18, was killed in a car crash after receiving her associate degree on Thursday
Hewski had been set to attend Syracuse University in the fall, following her graduation from high school
Brookdale President David Stout said in the aftermath that the college was ‘devastated’ by the tragedy.
He noted that Hewski was one of the youngest graduates of the program that allowed students to simultaneously earn an associate degree while finishing high school.
‘We had just celebrated her success as one of our youngest college graduates at Brookdale’s morning commencement ceremony,’ Stout said in a statement.
‘Lauren was an incredibly intelligent and talented young woman who left an indelibly positive impression on all her faculty and classmates.’
A college-wide moment of silence was held for Hewski on Friday.
St. John Vianney Principal Margaret Kane also said Hewski was ‘a gifted student and athlete,’ and the community ‘suffered a great loss.’
Friends remembered the high school senior, who was set to graduate on June 3, as ‘kind, beautiful and intelligent’
A bouquet of flowers has been placed at the utility pole where Hewski died
Friends remembered the high school senior, who was set to graduate on June 3, as ‘kind, beautiful and intelligent,’ they told News 12.
At her high school, Hewski was the co-captain of the varsity soccer team, a member of the National Honor Society and a former president of the school’s student government.
She was also involved in the Key Club and had received Girl Scouts awards, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Counseling staff, mental health clinicians and administrators are now available at St. John’s for any student or staff member who would like to talk about Hewski’s sudden passing.
In the meantime, a bouquet of flowers have been placed at the utility pole where she died.
