BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A talented teen’s life was cut short in a tragic accident. Saturday, family and friends gathered to say goodbye.

As Gigi Barnett reports, the teen’s classmates say the fatal accident has taught them a lesson in road safety.

Family and friends say Alec Cosgarea, 17, had everything going for him. He was a star on his school’s swim team and a popular student at McDonogh School in Owings Mills. Last year, he talked with WJZ about his fashion designs– a hit on the Internet– all made from duct tape.

Saturday, at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore, they all said farewell to the teen, who was ripped from them so soon.

“I only knew him for a couple of years, but he was a great kid,” said Peter Cooke.

“He was talented and so full of promise,” said neighbor Merrill Chaus. “He touched a lot of people’s lives.”

Baltimore County Police say Cosgarea was driving on Greenspring Avenue Monday night after dinner with friends. He lost control of his car when it spun out on a curve and struck a tree. Medics tried to save him but he died at Maryland Shock Trauma.

His friends are still in shock.

“Just profound grief is all I can say. What a sad and hard thing to figure out,” said Charlie Cummings.

Detectives say speed played a role in the accident that killed Cosgarea earlier this week. Now the message to slow down is even more clear.

“You gotta buckle up and slow down. I think we all realize that it’s not a joke out there,” Cooke said.

Cosgarea had just competed in his final summer swim meet a few hours before the crash that killed him.