Hours before anyone was expected to arrive, on Wednesday afternoon, the parking lot in front of Brick Memorial High School began to fill up. A few parents were standing close to their cars, chatting softly and avoiding eye contact. A small bouquet of flowers had been left by someone close to the curb. It’s the kind of detail that, even before anything has officially started, makes a place feel different.
Following a collision that claimed the life of a 15-year-old freshman on Tuesday morning, a vigil was scheduled for 7 p.m. In a GoFundMe page created to assist with funeral expenses, his family only listed him as Jackson. “Jackson was a thriving, outgoing, smart, 15-year-old boy,” the campaign’s creator, Chrissie Arif, wrote. Reading those words, which are initially written in the present tense before catching themselves, has an impact that is more powerful than any formal declaration.
Jackson was hit by a 17-year-old’s BMW while riding his bicycle to school and crossing Lanes Mill Road at Rhode Island Avenue. The driver was speeding and failed to stop, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. He is being held at the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center on charges of fleeing the scene of a fatal accident. Due to his age, his name has not been made public. What, if anything, will be said about why he continued to drive is still unknown.
Locals are familiar with the reputation of that section of Lanes Mill Road. It has a narrow shoulder and moves quickly, particularly in the morning. For years, parents who live close to the school have casually discussed the traffic in the same way that people discuss the weather. However, when something happens, the conversation suddenly becomes more serious. Walking past that intersection now gives me the impression that although the road appears the same, its meaning has changed.
According to Brick Township Superintendent Thomas G. Farrell, the district offers grief counselors to any staff member or student in need. For once, his statement didn’t feel like a statement. “This is an incredibly sad and tragic event for our community and we need to support one another during this difficult time,” he said. These messages are frequently released by school districts. The majority of them blend together. This one didn’t.
Due to safety concerns regarding the busy road, Brick police asked the public to assemble at the school instead of the location on Lanes Mill Road where the crash occurred. According to Deputy Chief Henry Drew, the department collaborated with school administrators, who concurred that the front parking lot could handle the anticipated high turnout. Additionally, attendees were asked by the police not to park on the shoulder in front of the school. A modest but revealing request. Everyone was still thinking about the peril of that road, even in mourning.
Messages from classmates, neighbors, and parents of children who didn’t even know Jackson personally but felt as though they did quickly flooded social media. Towns like Brick experience that. The boundaries between families are more blurred than they appear. Freshman year is meant to be the beginning of something, complete with awkward dances, first jobs, and self-discovery. The weight of all the things that won’t happen right now is difficult to ignore.
Tonight, there will likely be speeches, candles, and a lot of teenagers attempting to understand something that adults find difficult to comprehend. Observing this from a distance gives you the impression that the community will stick together, as these places typically do. However, things won’t be the same for some time. Perhaps longer than anyone is willing to acknowledge.
