No Charges Filed In Fatal Mahwah Accident That Killed Nicholas Lauerwald

MAHWAH, N.J. — As of Monday afternoon, no charges were filed against the driver in the fatal motor vehicle crash that killed a Mahwah 17-year-old Saturday night, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal said Monday.

A message posted on the Mahwah Police Department's Nixle page identified Nicholas Lauerwald as the victim of the fatal crash. Grewal's office would not release the victim's identity because of his age.

"On Saturday night our community suffered the tragic and inconsolable loss of Mahwah High School student Nicholas Lauerwald in a motor vehicle accident," the post stated. "As a community we offer our thoughts and prayers to the Lauerwald family, his friends, fellow students and members of the high school staff."

The crash remains under investigation. Grewal said. A candlelight vigil in Laurewald's memory is scheduled for tonight at 7 p.m. at Mahwah High School.

Lauerwald was a back-seat passenger in a Toyota 4Runner with five other boys when the vehicle hit a tree at Bellgrove Drive and North Bayard Lane at 10:32 p.m., authorities said. Another passenger suffered injuries and was taken to Valley Hospital, Grewal said.

Authorities are still trying to determine what exactly caused the Toyota to leave the roadway and hit the tree, although the wet weather may have contributed to the crash, police told NorthJersey.com.

Three girls in a car were reportedly following the boys when the crash occurred, NorthJersey.com reported.

"Mahwah is a close knit community and as we have done before during tragedy, we will join hands and support all those involved, their families, their friends and the entire student body, teachers and administrators who have difficult days before them," Mayor William Laforet said.

More than $20,000 has been donated to Lauerwald's family to help pay for his funeral expenses and nearly $4,000 has been donated to finance the Nicholas Lauerwald Memorial Scholarship Fund.

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Nicholas Lauerwald in a photo posted on a GoFundMe set up to collect donations for his funeral. — Courtesy of GoFundMe.com.