For New Lowell resident Walter Meyer, a sense of loss underscored Father's Day on Sunday.

While many dads spent time with their children, or at least talked to them by phone, Meyer was getting ready to say goodbye to his 18-year-old son Nicholas, who died in a car crash in New Lowell Thursday.

"Father's Day was kind of depressing," he said. "It wasn't a happy day that's for sure."

On Monday afternoon, friends and family attended a funeral for Nicholas at the Steven R. Bridge Funeral Home in Angus.

"He was an excellent son," the young man's dad said. "My prayers are with him."

Meyer said the outpouring of condolences from people who knew Nicholas has been overwhelming.

"We've had all kinds of friends, teachers, come by. It's just been non-stop. I want to thank them for their support," he said. "People have brought us food - it's been really nice of them."

Nicholas died when his green, 1998 Lincoln struck a tree on the west side of Switzer Street last Thursday morning.

Emergency workers were called to the scene around 6 a.m. and police spent much of the day trying to piece together what happened.

Const. Mark Kinney said the vehicle was southbound on Sunnidale 9/10 Sideroad when it left the road at the intersection with Switzer Street, became airborne and struck a tree.

"The car was vertical against the tree when we got there," he said. "It was just a mangled mess."

At the time, Walter Meyer was in Western Quebec near Temiskaming on a fishing trip.

He said no cell service is available in the region and so his brother-in-law drove up to tell him the tragic news.

"He (Nicholas) had just got his licence this year — March I think it was. I bought him that big car thinking it would keep him safe," the young man's father said. "He was a pretty cautious driver. His friends tell me he drove sensibly."

So what led to the crash?

"What they tell me is he must have fallen asleep at the wheel. There was no booze or drugs in the car."

Meyer said his son had been at a concert Wednesday night in Toronto and had returned to the New Lowell area afterwards to stay the night with friends.

Why Nicholas was coming home so early in the morning is a mystery, he said.

Meyer said his son was born at Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket and initially raised in Aurora.

The family moved to New Lowell 15 years ago.

Nicholas graduated from New Lowell Central Public School and was set to graduate from Stayner Collegiate Institute (SCI). Commencement is Thursday night at the high school.

"He was planning to go - it's kind of sad now," his father said.

Jane Seymour, the principal at SCI, said Nicholas' friends and teachers are saddened by his death.

"He was a very nice and respected student," she said. "I've just heard really nice character education traits about him."

In memory of Nicholas, the school's flags flew at half-staff last Friday, she noted.

"We've had a lot of hugs around here the last few days," Seymour said. "The students are putting together a book of condolence for the family - so we'll be giving that to them."

She said the school will acknowledge Meyer in some fashion at commencement on Thursday.

"I want to talk to the family first though about how we might do that," she said.

Walter Meyer said he still can't believe his son, who had a passion for skateboarding and fishing in the summer months, is gone.

"I still don't believe it myself," he said. "It's just unbelievable."

Nicholas is survived by his father and mother, Gail, who lives in Gravenhurst, and his brother, Cory, 20.

The family says that donations in memory of Nicholas can be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.