Family and friends gathered Monday to remember a 17-year-old from East Meadow who was killed in a car crash on the Southern State Parkway.

Joseph Bertolino was remembered at a candlelight vigil in Veterans Memorial Park.

Bertolino was driving on the Southern State Parkway on Jan. 25 when he lost control of his car, crashed into a light pole and then a tree on the side of the road. State police say he was pronounced dead at the scene.

His friends at the vigil say they can hardly believe he is no longer with them.

"These things happen and you don't think they can," said Mateusz Pienkowski. "You don't think someone so young can pass away, but they can and it's hard to face, but we have to."

Bertolino's friends say seeing all the pictures of his life is bittersweet.

The two childhood friends who organized this vigil say they did it not only to be able to share their memories about Joseph with his friends, family and the people who loved him, but also so they could share in their grief.