CANTON -- Members of the St. Lawrence University community are coming to grips with the death of a student in Massachusetts early New Year’s Day.

Garrett Gagne, a government major who was due to graduate from SLU this year, was struck by a car and killed early Thursday morning in Chatham, Mass. Authorities said he was run over by a police car as he lay in a roadway.

St. Lawrence University President William Fox, in a statement to Laurentians, quoted Gagne’s lacrosse coach, Mike Mahoney, who told Fox, “Garrett was close to all of us on the team--a leader, mentor, and friend. His smile and enthusiasm were contagious. He could light up the field and sidelines with his personality. This sudden and shocking loss touches every one of us who knew him as one of our best.”

“Wisdom and meaning seem impossible right now in the midst of our immediate, heart-breaking sadness,” Fox wrote.

“We must, of course, give our best and most loving thoughts to Garrett's family and friends in a day of such sudden deep grief,” he said.

On memorial web pages for Gagne on SLU’s site, students remembered him.

“He represented the best of the scholar athletes at our university. Friendly, personable, a hard worker. I really enjoyed getting to know him, and I am deeply saddened by his passing. I will always remember him fondly,” one student wrote.

“I looked up to and admired Garrett for his special and rare character. He had a gentleness and sense of humility to him that really was one of a kind.” said another.

“Every single time that I saw Garrett, he brightened my day, always quick to share a warm smile and laugh,” wrote Will Kauppila. “‘Is he always this nice?” I asked my friend after meeting him for the first time. It is truly amazing that he actually was. I just couldn’t believe how such an impressive guy could be so humble and down to earth. I saw some girls at a lacrosse game this fall with a big sign that read “I WANT TO BE LIKE GAGNE” and I know that everyone at SLU wanted to be just like Garrett. I will forever miss him and do my best to honor him. My heart is broken for his family,” Kauppila said.

Fox said that when students return to campus from their holiday break, there will be a gathering to honor Gagne’s memory.