Former N.J. track star killed in 3-vehicle crash in Somerset County, cops say
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A 23-year-old New Brunswick man who was a standout track athlete in high school[1] was killed in a three-vehicle crash in Somerset County, authorities said.
Mario Heslop was driving east on Hamilton Street in Franklin Township at about 5:30 p.m. Monday when he crossed over the center line and struck a westbound vehicle, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office[2] said.
The second vehicle was then hit by a third vehicle, also headed west near the corner of Hillcrest Avenue, officials said.
Heslop was bought to an area hospital, where he died of his injuries. The driver of the vehicle he hit, a Hillsborough resident, was hospitalized, officials said. The driver of the third vehicle declined treatment.
Considered one of the greatest high school sprinters in New Jersey history during a standout career at Franklin High School, Heslop collected eight Meet of Champions titles and was named both the 2018[3] and 2019 NJ.com boys track athlete of the year. He went on to compete in college at North Carolina A&T University[4].
Heslop last competed[5] at the Kennesaw State University Invitational in April in Kennesaw, Georgia, according to MileSplit.com[6]. He finished first in both the 100 in 10.54 and the 200 in 20.78.
The stretch of Hamilton Street where the crash took place is two lanes in each direction. All three vehicles were in their respective left lanes before the crash, authorities said.
The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at 908-231-7100 or Franklin police at 732-873-5533.
Jeff Goldman may be reached at [email protected].[7]
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References
- ^ standout track athlete in high school (www.nj.com)
- ^ Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office (www.co.somerset.nj.us)
- ^ 2018 (www.nj.com)
- ^ compete in college at North Carolina A&T University (www.nj.com)
- ^ Heslop last competed (nj.milesplit.com)
- ^ MileSplit.com (nj.milesplit.com)
- ^ [email protected] (www.nj.com)
- ^ NJ.com (www.nj.com)