John Keegan was helping a couple injured in a highway crash when he was killed.
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Now his community is rallying to support his grieving family.
A GoFundMe campaign doubled its goal of $20,000 within the first 16 hours of being online and now sits at more than $60,000.
And it's not just the teen's tragic death the family is coping with as John's grandmother passed away about an hour after the accident.
Heartbroken Penny Keegan said she, her husband Jason and the family were appreciative of the community support.
"Jase and I are so humbled by the huge support we are receiving from our friends, family and community and so, so proud of our John and the love people have for him and that is a result of the love he had for people," she said.
The central western NSW community of Orange has shown its respect in a number of touching ways since the horror accident.
John, 15, a Year 10 student at James Sheahan Catholic High School, was helping a couple injured in a two-car crash on Friday night when a truck prime mover struck both cars.
Police said John was a passenger in a Toyota utility which collided with a BMW and was helping its elderly occupants when the prime mover hit both cars.
Although taken to hospital, no-one else was seriously injured, police, who are continuing investigations, said.
Two sporting clubs - Orange City Rugby Club and CYMS rugby league - held a minute's silence for the schoolboy over the weekend.
James Sheahan CHS offered support to students and parents and opened the school hall to create a space for prayer and support.