The Tauranga Boys' College community is in mourning after one of the school's Year 13 students died in a crash.
Principal Robert Mangan said 18-year-old Calum Gilmour was an extremely popular student.
"You only have to look at Calum's Facebook page, he had more than 2900 friends," he said.
Calum John Cameron Gilmour died after the white Toyota hatchback he was driving and an oncoming black Vauxhall collided on State Highway 29A, Matapihi at 7.30pm on Thursday.
Three others injured in the crash were taken to Tauranga Hospital with moderate injuries.
A 47-year-old woman and a 15-year-old girl both from Tauranga were reported to be in stable condition, while another 15-year-old girl from Tauranga was treated and discharged.
Calum's death brings the road toll on Western Bay roads this year to 17 - one more than the number for the whole of last year.
Mr Mangan said Calum was part of the Tauranga Boys' College accelerate and completed his level 3 NCEA studies this year.
"Calum was a larger-than-life teenager and he lived life to the full.
"He was [a] really good academic student and had been looking forward to pursuing a career as [a] builder. His death is a tragedy."
Mr Mangan said under the college's Gateway programme Calum had been doing some work experience with a local firm, as he was keen to gain an apprenticeship in the building and construction industry.
"Calum was also a competitive swimmer and he [was] also keen on maintaining a health and fitness regime and regularly attended the school's weight room," he said.
Mr Mangan said Calum had been a student at the College since Year 9, and his 16-year-old brother Hamish was a Year 11 student at the school - the boys also have a younger sister.
"We have a place at the college where his close friends and a number of the other senior boys and girls from Tauranga Girls' College gathered yesterday to support each other."
Mr Mangan said he had spoken to the rest of the students about Calum's death at his usual Friday principal's assembly.
"As a principal it's very hard to be talking about Calum's death as we care a lot for all our boys.
"It's a loss which is being felt deeply by the whole school community, and we will do what we can to support and comfort his family, his friends, the other students and staff."
Calum's grieving parents did not wish to comment.
Several messages were posted on Calum's Facebook page yesterday, including one from Cameron Hemingway who said: "Love you brother miss you !!!!!!", while Shayna Harris wrote: "I love you Calum I miss you so much, fly high cuz."
When the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend revisited the crash scene yesterday someone had left a bunch of flowers, Calum's name written on notes and a black cap.
Greerton Swim Club committee member Michael Pugh said he had known Calum for at least five years, but the teenager stopped swimming last year.
"Calum was a well-liked member of the swimming club and he put his heart and soul into the sport while he doing it. My condolences to his family."
Head of Western Bay road policing Senior Sergeant Ian Campion said police inquiries were continuing and no further information was available at this time.
Police said anyone with information about the crash should contact Tauranga Police on 577 4300 or call the Crimestoppers line anonymously on 0800 555 111.