Schools
Rutgers Student Hit, Killed By Amtrak Train
The Rutgers student, identified as Kenneth Patterson of Boonton, was on the tracks when he was hit at 4 a.m. Saturday in New Brunswick.
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — A Rutgers student was tragically struck and killed by an Amtrak train over the weekend.
The death occurred at the New Brunswick train station at 4 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9. The Rutgers student, identified as Kenneth Patterson, was on the tracks when he was hit, an Amtrak spokesman said.
"At approximately 4:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 9, Northeast Regional Train 65 originating from Boston, towards Norfolk, Virginia came into contact with an individual on the tracks near New Brunswick, New Jersey," said Amtrak spokesman Jason Abrams. "The individual was later identified as Kenneth Patterson. There were no injuries to any crew or passengers."
Find out what's happening in New Brunswickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Patterson is from Boonton, New Jersey and he was a first-year Rutgers student who played lacrosse with the club team.
"It is with a heavy heart that I bring you the news of the death of first-year student Kenneth Patterson. Kenneth, a Boonton, New Jersey native, died on Saturday morning," Rutgers chancellor Deba Dutta said in an email message to the entire Rutgers community. "During his brief time at Rutgers, Kenneth made an impact on the community in his residence hall and was active with the university’s club lacrosse team. The holiday season is a period that should be filled with reunions with loved ones, so please keep Kenneth’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers in the coming days and weeks."
Find out what's happening in New Brunswickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Grief counselors are available to any student on the Rutgers campus seeking grief or general support. Students can contact CAPS (Counseling, ADAP, and Psychological Services) at 848-932-7884 or visit the center at 17 Senior Street in New Brunswick. Also, students may reach out to the following resources for support:
- Dean of Students Office: 848-932-2300
- Multifaith Council: 848-932-5500
- Crisis Text Line: Text KNIGHTS to 741-741, anytime 24/7
- NJ Hopeline: 1-855-654-6735
Services for Kenneth are still being arranged. Students are asked to contact the Dean of Students Office in the coming days for information about those services.
Photo by Carly Baldwin/Patch
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
