Hundreds of people gathered Thursday night in Swansea, Massachusetts, to mourn a teenager killed last week in a car crash.
Seventeen-year-old Ethan Kielec of Swansea died Friday night after crashing into a fire hydrant and a utility pole on Marvel Street, police said. A passenger, also 17, was injured and taken to a local hospital.
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Kielec was a dedicated Boy Scout in Troop 303. His father, Matthew, is the scoutmaster.
"My first thought was, 'Oh my god, how am I going to handle this?'" Matthew Kielec said.
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He was joined by many community members Thursday night at Swansea Veterans Memorial Park, where a candlelight vigil was held for his son.
"I know it's going to be a long healing process," Matthew Kielec said. "I hope that what we've done tonight has helped some of the other members of the town."
"This is a kid that makes a difference, OK. He makes the world a better place," said Bob Flynn, who has been involved in scouting for more than 40 years. "There is now a hole in the fabric of mankind. And his hole is a lot bigger than what most people leave."
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Authorities said last week they were investigating the cause of the crash.
