School officials in Pennsylvania have identified the teenager killed in a tragic accident when a deer crashed through the front of a car he was riding in earlier this week.
Malvern Preparatory School confirmed the student was Kevin Donohue, sharing the news with ABC affiliate WPVI. Officials said Kevin was on his way to campus when the accident happened.
“Kevin was an exceptional young man who embodied the very best characteristics of a Malvern Prep student,” the school said, according to the outlet. “He will be deeply missed.”
The crash occurred on Tuesday, Sept. 2, according to Pennsylvania State Police in a statement shared with PEOPLE.
Investigators said a car heading east hit a deer on the road. The impact sent the deer into the westbound lane, where it smashed into the windshield of the vehicle Kevin was in. Police identified him only as a juvenile in their report. He was sitting in the front passenger seat and taken to a hospital, but later died from his injuries.
“The juvenile succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased,” police said, adding that they are still trying to locate the driver of the first car that struck the deer.
Authorities believe that vehicle is a black Toyota Sienna with significant front-end damage. The investigation is still ongoing.
“This loss is a profound tragedy that has impacted our students, faculty, staff, and community,” the school said, according to WPVI. “Our immediate focus is on surrounding his family with compassion and ensuring that our students, faculty, and staff are supported as we grieve together.”
Dr. Patrick Sillup, head of Malvern Prep, also released a statement to PEOPLE: “I can confirm that we have experienced the loss of a member of our student body. This loss is a profound tragedy that has impacted our students, faculty, staff and community. Out of respect for this young man and his family, we will not be sharing additional details at this time.”
A local athletics page said Donohue was a dedicated lacrosse player and was set to graduate in 2027.
“I could only imagine what the family is going through, having lost a young son,” neighbor Jason Lazurick told WPVI.
