The lone survivor of a horrific car crash that killed four teenagers in Grande Prairie, Alta. remained in a medically induced coma Monday morning as the community reeled from the tragic loss.
Zak Judd, 15, was critically injured in the crash and remains in stable condition in an Edmonton-area hospital.
Mathew Deller, 16, Vincent Stover, 16, Walter Borden-Wilkens, 15, and Tanner Hildebrand, 15, died early Saturday morning when a pickup truck slammed into their car.
All five young men were members of the Warriors football team at Grande Prairie Composite high School.
CTV Edmonton's Jessica Earle said the community is coming together in its grief.
"There's been an incredible outpouring of support," she told CTV News Channel. "On Saturday night, 24 hours after the crash happened, hundreds of people gathered at the local football field, people even travelled in from other communities, rival football teams, to express their condolences."
The driver of the pickup truck that hit the car allegedly fled the scene after the accident, but a man was arrested a short time later.
21-year-old Brendan Holubowich, of Grande Prairie, faces 11 charges, including four counts of impaired driving causing death and one count of fleeing the scene of an accident, Earle said.
The high school was supposed to be closed Monday for a professional development day. But counsellors are being made available to any students who feel the need to talk about the tragedy, Earle said.
A number of students narrowly missed being involved in the crash.
"Some of these kids, we're told, were just metres away at a bonfire when the crash happened. They actually saw some of the debris flying through the air and were among the first people to call 911," Earle said.
The school's principal, who is also the coach of the football team, called on students and the community to hold back their anger.
"Justice will be for the courts to deal with, and it's important to realize that yes, we can be very angry and even disappointed that this happened," Rick Gilson told The Canadian Press.
"But there's also a need for people to have mercy and compassion. And those are elements that provide healing and an opportunity for us to move forward."
The Warriors were scheduled to play a semi-final game this Saturday. That game will go ahead as planned, in honour of those "fallen Warriors" who were killed, Gilson said.
On Saturday night a vigil was held at the school's football field. Hundreds of orange balloons -- the school colour -- were released into the sky in remembrance of the boys.
Gilson stood on a bench and led the gathering in a prayer, calling on people in the crowd to support each other and telling the team "we have to be courageous."
Holubowich was released on bail over the weekend and is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 31 in Grande Prairie.
