The joy of the Mother's Day weekend quickly turned to grief in Sydney, N.S. after two high school students were killed in a crash police are calling ‘horrific.'

Police say the teens were joyriding in a stolen vehicle when it crashed early Saturday and a makeshift memorial has popped up on Kings Road, where the crash occurred.

"I really don't know what to do with myself," says Kenny Kennedy, the cousin of one of the victims. "It is really hard to deal with. I haven't accepted it yet. It doesn't seem real."

Kennedy was set to graduate next month with his 17-year-old cousin, Tyler "Ferg" MacKinnon.

They both attended Sydney Academy, along with 15-year-old Matthew "Fitz" Fitzgerald, who also died at the scene.

Police say the sport utility vehicle the teens were driving was taken from the driveway of a Sydney River home just after 3 a.m. Saturday.

Minutes later, it was headed into the city when it spun out of control on a wide turn and crashed into three power poles and a fire hydrant, before it rolled on its side and slid to a stop.

"Based on the damage to the vehicle and the damage that was caused to the utility poles, it is safe to say that speed was a major contributing factor to this accident," says Sgt. Russell Baker.

Fellow students say no matter the circumstances, they have suffered a terrible loss.

"An accident is an accident," says student Elise Power. "They did not deserve this. Stuff like this should not happen to people who are so young."

Crisis counsellors spent the day at Sydney Academy to help students and staff cope with the tragedy, which has sparked an outpouring of grief.

The school's flag is flying at half-mast in memory of the students.

"The magnitude of the tragedy is impacting all the students and staff," says Principal Kevin Deveaux. "We are trying to support our students and each other as best we can. We are providing resources for the students, including a crisis intervention team."

Police hope the combination of the victims' autopsy results, analysis of vehicle computer data and information from possible witnesses will paint a clearer picture of what happened early Saturday.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Randy MacDonald