Students and faculty at Sierra Canyon School are mourning the loss of a student who died in a car accident Thursday morning, the private school confirmed.
After learning of the accident, the school canceled all events for the day. The details of the crash have not been officially confirmed.
Sierra Canyon, a small private school, is known for its close-knit community. Many on campus said they knew the student and remembered him as bright, athletic, and kind.
Marquis Johnson, a freshman at Sierra Canyon, said the student who died had taken him under his wing.
“He was a great guy, athletic, very smart, intelligent, and he just cared about you,” Johnson said. “I’ve barely known him for about six months, but honestly, we felt like we were brothers. I was crying for at least 20 minutes. It was just horrible. All of our events got canceled today.”
The school sent a statement to students confirming the loss:
“It is with a very heavy heart that I share the tragic news that a student of our Upper Campus community died earlier this morning in a car accident,” the statement read in part. “My deepest sympathies are with the family as they navigate an unimaginable loss, and I know our entire community will join me in holding them in our thoughts and prayers. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we will not be sharing additional details.”
The statement also said the school’s wellness director will be on campus Friday to support students who may need extra assistance.