HARNETT COUNTY, N.C. – Family and friends are mourning the death of 15-year-old Jonathan McKenzie, of Harnett County, who died after being struck by a car Wednesday night.

Highway Patrol officers say McKenzie was walking with a group of friends on his way to church. Investigators say they do not know why he stepped out into the road, but he was walking with the flow of traffic at the same time of the accident.

“If the pedestrian is walking with the traffic, they won't see the vehicle coming up from behind and be struck most of the time,” Sgt. Vincent Terry, of the Highway Patrol, said.

It was McKenzie's first semester with his classmates. He was training to compete in his first drill competition, which was scheduled for this weekend.

“The cadets decided that [McKenzie] would want them to go on to the competition, so we have decided that we will go and be back in time to show our respects to [him] tomorrow night at the wake,” Lt. Col. Thomas Covington said.

Covington said the cadets are coming together in their grief.

“I'm sure when we go out there on the drill pack for the competitions, [McKenzie] is going to be there with us,” he said. “And the cadets are going to be thinking about [him] and they will do their best for him.”

Highway Patrol troopers say they're still investigating the accident. They have not charged the driver of the car.