A candlelight vigil for Lauerwald was planned for 7 p.m. Monday at the Mahwah High School football field.
MAHWAH -- The superintendent of Mahwah Public Schools said the district was arranging grief counselors and support services for staff and students after a 17-year-old student died Saturday in a car crash.
Police have not named the person who died, but family friends and Mahwah students have identified the 17-year-old as a senior at the high school, Nicholas Lauerwald.
A candlelight vigil for Lauerwald was planned for 7 p.m. Monday at the high school football field.
Lauerwald parking spot at the high school on Monday was decorated with flowers and hand-written messages, including "Fly High Brother" and "We miss you," according to NorthJersey.com.
Mahwah Police Chief James Batelli told the publication that the teen was in a Toyota Highlander when the SUV struck a tree. There were six boys in the car at the time of an accident and were being followed by three girls in a car, he said.
Mahwah Mayor Bill Laforet wrote on Facebook Sunday that he had met twice with the teenager's family and that arrangements were still being decided.
"Mahwah is a close-knit community and as we have done before during tragedy, we will join hands and support all those involved, their families, their friends and the entire student body, teachers and administrators who have difficult days before them," Laforet wrote.
A family friend has organized a fundraiser for a scholarship in Lauerwald's name to benefit graduating students at Mahwah High School.
"Nick was a talented, smart, kind boy with a full, promising life ahead of him. He always had a smile on his face and had lots of friends," self-described family friend Suzanne Ordas Curry said in an email.
A GoFundMe account has also been created in Lauerwald's name to raise money for T-Shirts and bracelets, with the remaining money going to his family for funeral costs. The page has so far raised more than $14,000.
"Our school community is saddened by the sudden loss of one of our students," said Superintendent Lauren Schoen in an emailed statement. "This student was an amazing friend, accomplished musician, and award-winning scholar."
Reactions to the student's death were shared online:
Breaks my heart the town I love so much is hurting so bad. Never forget Mahwah blue runs deep #foreverathunderbird
-- mags (@maggieeeemoooo) October 23, 2016
Sara Jerde may be reached at sjerde@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SaraJerde.Through these tough times, Mahwah the town we love comes together, no matter how far we are from home. Rest in peace Nick[?]
-- Tim Kramer (@timkramer1225) October 24, 2016