Two dead, one in hospital following car crash in southeast N.B.

A family member of one of the victims puts up a cross at the scene of the crash in Port Elgin, N.B.

A small New Brunswick community is in mourning after a single-vehicle crash left two dead and a third in critical condition.

Police received word of the crash in Port Elgin, N.B., shortly after 8 p.m. Friday.

Colby Callender, 18, from Sackville, N.B., and Chad Alder, 17, from Melrose, N.B., died at the scene.

Alder’s cousin, James Alger, was at the scene of the crash Saturday to construct a roadside memorial.

"It was three young boys that just started their lives,” said Alger. “It's a tragic way to end. They're only young.”

The accident happened approximately one kilometre east of the Port Elgin turnaround.

"I'm just sorry to the family,” said Alger. “I give out my deep respects from my family to theirs and to my cousin Darla Alder. We're going to miss Chad very much.”

Port Elgin is located just minutes from the Confederation Bridge and the Nova Scotia border. The population is about 450 people.

Village Mayor Judy Scott says the entire community is in mourning.

"It's the same as any small community, you know everybody,” she said. “When there's an accident, you always want to know if it's a local.”

A steady stream of onlookers passed the accident site on Saturday – many in disbelief.

“It wasn’t their time to go yet,” said resident Richard Legere.

Police say the cause of the crash remains unknown.

"It's still under investigation,” said Cpl. Alain LeBlanc of New Brunswick RCMP. “We’ve got the accident reconstructionist on site last night, so we're still investigating the cause."

The 16-year-old survivor underwent surgery, but RCMP have not provided an update on his condition.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Ashley Blackford.