BEVERLY — Two Endicott College sophomores placed yellow daffodils Saturday afternoon at the site of a single-car crash just after midnight that killed their 19-year-old classmate and left the driver seriously injured.
“We just wanted to put something there,’’ said one of the women who asked not to be named.
The two had heard the crash on a street near their building and rushed over, witnessing the immediate aftermath.
The student killed was identified as Craig Sampson by Endicott College’s president, Dr. Richard E. Wylie.
Police identified the driver of the car as 20-year-old Joseph Castano, a visitor to the Beverly campus, according to Wylie.
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Both men were from Williston, Vt., police said.
“[Sampson] brought life, energy, and smiles to all our faces and will be greatly missed by our entire community,” Wylie said in a statement. “At this time of sadness, we must join together in our prayers and for Craig and his family.”
The women who brought the daffodils to the crash site remembered Sampson as a “goofy” friend who loved Vermont and enjoyed studying Spanish.
Castano and Sampson were traveling in a BMW that struck a telephone pole in the area of 376 Hale St. around 12:15 a.m. Saturday, according to a statement from Beverly police.
The accident occurred on a public road that runs between Endicott College buildings, including several dorms.
“As I got back to my dorm, I heard the sliding of the tires and the crash into the telephone pole,” said another Endicott College student who lives in one of the residence halls overlooking the curvy street with an incline where the crash occurred.
So many people called 911 in the moments after the crash that she couldn’t initially get through to police, who arrived very quickly, she said.
“They swerved,” said one of the young women who left the daffodils. “Craig was in the passenger’s seat and he took a lot of the impact.”
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Sampson and Castano were both taken to Beverly Hospital. Sampson, who had been a passenger in the car, was pronounced dead at the hospital. Castano was taken to Lahey Hospital in Burlington with severe injuries, according to police.
Beverly police said alcohol and speed may have been factors.
The crash remains under investigation by Beverly police, State Police, and Endicott College campus police.
No additional information was available late Saturday afternoon.
Car accidents are not common around the picturesque oceanside campus, which is built around a pond with bridges and flowers, said several students.
“It’s one of those things where [you say], ‘Oh, that doesn’t happen here,’ ” said 18-year-old Sinead Carthy, a freshman at Endicott College. “And then it does happen.”
Grief counselors were available Saturday for students affected by Sampson’s death. In addition, several students stated that they would be visiting the home of Wylie for a barbecue Saturday evening where they could grieve as a community.
“Endicott hurts, Beverly hurts. Every student is going to step up and be here” for one another, said Carthy.
Globe correspondent Shapleigh Webster contributed to this report. Nicole Fleming can be reached at nicole.fleming-@globe.com.