Cause Of Death Of N.J. High School Sports Star Released

Details have been released on the death of a popular student-athlete who was killed Sunday night in a fatal train crash in New Jersey.

The Mercer County Medical Examiner's Office has determined the cause of death of Jacob J. "Coby" St. Phard, 18, to be a suicide.

St. Phard was struck on the tracks just west of a NJ Transit train station around 8:20 p.m. on Sunday, according to spokesman Jim Smith said.

The East Windsor resident was a star soccer player at Notre Dame High School who recently committed to playing at Susquehanna University in the fall. He was on the tracks just west of the Hamilton train station at that time.

The train was heading for a maintenance yard in Bucks County, Pa., Smith said. St. Phard was pronounced dead at the scene.

There were no passengers aboard the train.

Another star N.J. athlete was killed just two days before. A popular student-athlete was killed Friday in a fatal ATV crash in North Jersey, police said.

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St. Phard was set to graduate this June from the Lawrence Township-based school, according to his Twitter account. He led Notre Dame in assists and was second on the team in goals last season, according to nj.com.

"Thank you to my parents, coaches, teammates, crazy friends, and even those not in my life anymore who have supported me and had a part in this process. Blessed and thankful to have my name beside the X like Malcolm, see you in the Fall," St. Phard said on his Instagram account when he committed to Susquehanna.

His parents have set up a GoFundMe page that they say will raise money to help honor St. Phard.

"Our dearest Coby is now flying high with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We have decided to honor Coby by creating a fund in his name. Although at this moment, we don't know exactly where these funds will go, we wanted to give everyone who knew and loved him a chance to do something in his name. This fund will be used towards a charity or charities that Coby would love to help. Who knows, if we get enough, we may even establish a scholorship fund for soccer player in his name.

"We appreciate so much the outpouring of love that we have received from our family, friends, the Notre Dame Community and the community at large. Coby will be missed very much, but lets do something that would honor his 18 years and help him continue to make an impact on this world."

Friends were paying tribute to him on Twitter:

• Alex Fernández ‏@fern8ndez @Coby_StPhardthis was at the Gill game
• Johnny ‏@JFrycz My striking partner in crime up top for 3 years, carpool buddy for 2, and my brother for life. RIP @Coby_StPhard
• CoZMiK 宇宙の ‏@CoZMiKMusic Rest in Peace my guy @Coby_StPhard
• Alex Fernández ‏@fern8ndez Feels like just yesterday we were balling out at the All-State game, gonna miss you man @Coby_StPhard
• Fatai King ‏@fataik1 Lmao throwback with you man rest easy @Coby_StPhard
• mohamed ‏@MohamedFquihi East Brunswick, NJrest in peace Coby , I love you man, I'm gonna miss you on the field. @Coby_StPhard