A second Vineland High School North student was killed by a car less than two weeks after his classmate Alexa Strittmatter was struck and killed on her way to the bus stop.
"He was our student, part of our family, and someone we want to protect and and educate each day," said school spokesperson John Sbrana. "And when we lose part of our family it hurts, It hurts a lot."
Police say that hurt began around 4:50 p.m. Monday when 14-year-old Jermire Lowery died after the car he was riding in crashed into a parked truck on Almond Road.
Lowery, the 17-year-old driver and three other passengers were transported to Inspira Medical Center. Lowery was pronounced dead a short time later.
The other teens were treated for minor injuries.
The deadly crash comes less than two weeks after another Vineland High School North student, Alexa Strittmatter, was hit by two cars while crossing Main Road near Elmer Road on her way to catch her morning school bus.
Strittmatter, who rode the same bus as Lowery, was also rushed to Inspira Medical before she died.
"She was such a beautiful girl," Strittmatter's friend Shelby Watts said. "She shouldn't have been taken away like that."
Friends of Lowery, saddened by the loss of their friend, took to Twitter after hearing the news:
It just doesnt make any sense....... why is all the young ones leaving us? All the good ones? Why.... r.i.p. jermire lowery....������������ — enysa.❥ (@enysaa_) November 12, 2013
Rest In Paradise Baby .. Jermire Lowery — Domonique ❤ (@YoungSimba_Ox) November 12, 2013
Everyone is dying around me.. R.I.P. Jermire Lowery ;( . #1DforAlexa #rest #in #paradise http://t.co/zyQcapqls0 — Kayla Marie Garcia (@BiKaylagarcia) November 12, 2013
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The school district says grief counselors will be on hand all week long for classmates in need.
"We're in mourning right now, we're still grieveing over the loss of Alexa Strittmatter and to have this happen to Jermire Lowery hard to comprehend," said Sbrana
The victim's mother Nicole Redfern recalls her son mourning Strittmatter's death.
"He said it was horrible. He said he would hate to get hit by a car and die."
The accident is under investigation and it's unclear if the teens in the car were wearing seatbelts or if the number of kids in the car was a contributing factor to the accident.
So far, no charges have been filed.
