One of the young men was described as “a vibrant soul known for his kindness and adventurous spirit,” someone who pursued his studies intently but also enjoyed an evening of bowling, riding his dirt bike and working on trucks.

The other was “patriotic and proud,” a collector of military memorabilia who loved diving and fishing and planned to enlist in the Coast Guard.

The two young friends, Brian Patrick Smith Jr., 22, and Cody M. McKernan, 18, died in an accident on the Garden State Parkway early Thanksgiving morning.

Services for McKernan and Smith will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6, and Tuesday, Dec. 9, respectively.

Smith, a Cape May Court House resident, was a senior at the University of Delaware. He was described in his obituary as someone who “brought immense joy and laughter into the lives of everyone he touched.”

He was a graduate of St. Augustine Preparatory School in Buena Vista Township who pursued his academic passions with fervor, yet balanced his studies with the activities he loved. His interests included everything from intense evenings at bowling to riding dirt bike trails.

Smith enjoyed telling stories of mudding adventures and conquering off-road terrain. His dogs, the obituary said, were his constant companions, whether sharing his adventures or quieter moments at home.

His obituary also said, “His love for trucks was not just in the driving but also in the meticulous care he took while working on them, a reflection of his detailed nature.”

McKernan, born in Cape May Court House and a Villas resident, graduated from Cape May County Technical School in June and was described as an “old soul in a young body.”

He had a love of the water and of exploring the ocean, which led to his doing explorative diving off the coast. While a student at Cape Tech, he studied the natural sciences and earned his diving license. He also worked as a deck hand on sport fishing boats and did boat maintenance. Along with diving, he enjoyed fishing.

McKernan collected war and military memorabilia and was extremely patriotic and respectful to everyone. His patriotism led him to explore the different branches of the military. As a teenager he was a member of the Civil Air Patrol.

He had decided to enlist in the Coast Guard and hoped to gain his six-pack captain’s license, which is necessary for tour and charter boat operators.

McKernan was described as “quiet but not shy; opinionated but respectful; patriotic and proud.”

According to the State Police, troopers responded to a motor vehicle crash on the Parkway north at milepost 11.1 in Middle Township at 12:19 a.m. Nov. 27.

Based on a preliminary investigation, Smith was operating a Chevrolet passenger vehicle with McKernan as the front seat passenger. Smith lost control of the vehicle, struck the guardrail on the left, reentered the roadway and struck the guardrail on the right.

A Honda passenger vehicle also traveling north on the Parkway and operated by Andrew Loteck, 46, of Woodbine, struck the Chevrolet. During the collision sequence, both Smith and McKernan were ejected from their vehicle and sustained fatal injuries. Loteck sustained minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital.

The crash remains under investigation.

Funeral services for McKernan will be held at the Evoy Funeral Home, 3218 Bayshore Road, North Cape May, on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 1 p.m. Viewing begins at 11 a.m. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Luke Lare Foundation, LukeLareFoundation.org.

Funeral services for Smith will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at Our Lady of the Angels Church, 35 E. Mechanic St., Cape May Court House. Viewing will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the funeral Mass at 11. Interment will be at Resurrection Cemetery, Clermont. Condolences may be left at www.radzieta.com.

Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or call 609-886-8600, ext. 128.