The girl missed the bus, which initially was waiting for her and was headed to New York City, sources said.
ROBBINSVILLE -- The Robbinsville High School student who was driving the car that struck and killed the district's superintendent Tuesday morning was late for a school trip when the crash occurred, according to two sources involved in the investigation.
Robbinsville school Superintendent Steven Mayer in a December 2013 photo.Superintendent Steven Mayer was jogging with his dog along Robbinsville-Edinburg Road about a mile from the high school around 6:15 a.m. when he was hit. Both Mayer and his dog were killed, authorities said.
The 17-year-old girl who was driving the car has not been identified and the department said no charges have been filed.
The teen was supposed to be among a group of students on a school trip to New York, and the bus had been waiting for her, according to the two sources who asked to not be named because they were not authorized to speak about the ongoing investigation.
The bus left without her, but it later returned to the school with the trip canceled after those on board were informed of Mayer's death, the sources said.
The Mercer County Prosecutor's Office is investigating the crash.
Mayer remembered for energy, commitment
Mayer, who has been Robbinsville's superintendent since 2009, was a resident of the township and lived near the high school. He had three children.
News of his death hit the small Mercer County community hard and he was widely mourned by school and local officials as a dedicated educator, natural leader and family man.
He joined the Robbinsville district following several teaching and administrative posts at districts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Robbinsville Mayor Dave Fried described Mayer as a "ball of energy.''
"He was someone you always wanted to be around. He was passionate about our kids, the school. He was an educator and he was also a coach. He brought so much of his energy to our district," Fried said.
Fried also reminded everyone that another family also is grieving after Tuesday's tragedy.
"There are two families involved in this tragedy, both Dr. Mayer's and the student's family and we're praying for them all,'' Fried said at a morning press conference. "It's heartbreaking for all of us.''
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.