Middletown Teen Who Died In Six Flags Accident Remembered As Funny, Amazing, Well-Liked

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — A 19-year-old from Middletown has been identified as the young man who died as a result of an accident at Six Flags Great Adventure last weekend.

Justin Dill, a 2016 graduate of Middletown High School North, is being remembered by friends as a sweet young man on social media. Funeral services are today (Thursday) and Friday, according to his obituary on the Evergreen Memorial Funeral Home website.

Dill was an apprentice with the electricians' union at Great Adventure, according to his obituary; he was working on stringing lights at Great Adventure about 6:30 a.m. Friday when he was hit by a lift truck, Jackson Capt. Steven Laskiewicz said. Police and Great Adventure officials say the accident remains under investigation.

He was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he died Saturday as a result of his injuries; he was surrounded by his loving parents, family and close friends, his obituary said.

"(Justin) was an all-around nice student and will be fondly remembered by the High School North community," Middletown North Principal Patricia Vari-Cartier said. "Justin possessed a good sense of humor and was always polite and respectful. He particularly enjoyed his culinary arts class and was very creative in the kitchen. He was very serious about his studies in the vocational program for electricity."

"Justin was so smart, funny, and unique and I loved having him in my class at MHSN," teacher Lindsay Rath said in a condolence left on the funeral home website.

Several friends who knew him through online gaming remarked at how kind and funny he was as well.

"(Justin) was an amazing person," said Austin Blaylock, who knew him through online gaming. "(He) has had a huge impact on the people that he was around and we miss him a lot."

Dill, who also graduated from the electrical program at Monmouth County Vocational School, also enjoyed Boy Scouts, camping, and fishing, his obituary said.

"As a teenager he became a member of the St Catherine’s youth group where he enjoyed helping others. He had a love for animals and his favorite hobbies were mountain biking, playing video games, listening to metal music, and going to concerts. He loved eating Baja Fresh and drinking Monster energy drinks," his family said.

Justin is survived by his loving parents, Ann Marie Apel of Island Heights and Mark Dill of Belford; step-parents Patricia Hilbert and Brennan Apel, half-sister Diane Apel, stepbrother John Keat, stepsister Lori Janosko and husband Phillip, grandparents Betty Dill, Joseph and Maureen Gallo, Gary and Sandra Hilbert, Gary and Cheryl Apel; great-grandmother Nan Apel and Edie Mcguire; great- grandfather Richard Volkart, aunts and uncles John Gallo, Matthew Gallo, James and Dana Gallo, Justin and Alena Apel, Dr. Kevin and Amanda Apel, Allison and Chris Bickum, Rick and Carol Dill, James and Maryann Goldman, Michelle and Robert Hough; one niece Lily Janosko, and numerous beloved cousins.

Justin will be reposing at Evergreen Memorial Funeral Home, 1735 Route 35, Middletown, on Thursday Sept. 7, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Catherine Laboure. Interment to follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

A GoFundme campaign has been established to help the family with funeral expenses. Click here for more information or to contribute. Nearly $4,000 of the $7,500 goal had been donated as of Thursday afternoon.

Photo via GoFundme