Rutgers Newark Soccer Star, St. Benedict’s Alum Killed In Crash

NEWARK, NJ — Adrian Velazquez was an “anchor” for the Rutgers University men’s soccer team in Newark. But the Kearny resident’s roots in the North Jersey community were deeper than just sports. He was a son… a brother… a friend.

And he will be dearly missed by them all, Rutgers University says.

On Saturday, a car crash in the on northbound U.S. 13 in the Bear area of Delaware claimed the lives of Velazquez and Alfahtee Heuy of Hillside, an alum of Saint Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark. Velazquez and Heuy were both 19-years-old, authorities said.

According to the university, two other Rutgers-Newark students were injured in the crash and are receiving treatment: Jose Barillas of Newark and Andres Medina of Howell. Both are sophomores in the Rutgers Business School who attended St. Benedict’s Prep.

Velazquez, Barillas and Medina were all Rutgers University soccer players at the Newark Campus, Rutgers confirmed. Heuy was friends with the three teens and was a graduate of St. Benedict Prep in Newark.

“It is with the most profound sadness that I write regarding the sudden and tragic loss of our student, Adrian Velazquez, in an accident yesterday in Delaware. A first-year student in the College of Arts & Sciences who attended high school just across the river in Kearny, Adrian was just beginning to explore his academic interests to select a major, but was as committed to success in the classroom as he was on the soccer field, where he was a defensive anchor of the men’s soccer team whose play exuded his passion for the game. He inspired deep affection among his teammates and classmates, as well as in his hometown, with which he maintained strong connections. Our hearts are broken for Adrian’s mother, Tania, his father, Javier, brothers Alexi and Daniel, as well as for his teammates and fellow athletes, friends and neighbors of the Kearny community, and all who knew him. We also extend deepest sympathies to the St. Benedict’s community for the loss of Alfahtee Heuy, an alumnus of that school and friend of our students who was traveling with them and who also tragically lost his life.”

Rutgers officials added that they were also sending wishes for a speedy recovery to Barillas and Medina.

Velazquez played for nationally-ranked No. 8 Rutgers University-Newark men's soccer team and was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Rookie of the Week in September.

According to Velazquez’s obituary, relatives and friends are invited to visit at the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, 585 Belgrove Drive, Kearny on Thursday, March 8, from 4 to 8 p.m. A funeral Mass will be offered in St. Cecilia Church, Kearny on Friday at 10 a.m. Cremation will be private. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to the Adrian Velazquez Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Ironbound Soccer Club, Attn: Al Coutinho 11 Providence Street Newark, NJ 07105.

The Delaware State Police issued the following statement about the crash:

“The incident occurred at approximately 10:14 a.m., Saturday, March 3, 2018, as a 2003 Toyota Avalon operated by a 19-year-old male was traveling northbound on US RT 13 in the left lane. For unknown reasons, the Avalon gradually drifted into the right lane of travel, and then off of the east edge of the roadway where it traveled through a grassy area. The Avalon struck a small rise in the ground which subsequently sent the vehicle airborne into an area of thick brush and trees. The vehicle’s front end struck a large tree before coming to its final resting place.”

Delaware state police continued:

“The 19-year-old operator identified as Adrian Velazquez from Kearny, NJ sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was properly restrained and impairment is not considered a factor on his behalf at this time. The front seat passenger, a 19-year-old male from Newark, NJ was properly restrained and removed from the scene by EMS. He was transported to the Christiana Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The left rear passenger, identified as 19-year-old Alfahtee Heuy from Hillside, NJ was not wearing a seatbelt and was partially ejected. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. The right rear passenger, a 20-year-old male from Howell, NJ was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected, landing a short distance away from the vehicle for a final resting place. He was removed from the scene by EMS and transported to the Christiana Hospital where he has been admitted in critical condition.”

A puppy was also killed in the crash, DelawareOnline reported.

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Photo: Rutgers-Newark

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