MANCHESTER – A former high school athlete and US Marine died in a crash Saturday afternoon, police said.
The crash occurred around 3:20 p.m. at the intersection of Route 37 and Colonial Drive. William C. Swiderski, 24, was riding a red 2007 Honda CBR motorcycle west on Route 37. As it entered the intersection at Colonial Drive, it collided with a white 2020 Honda Accord that was traveling south on Colonial, police said.
The impact caused the Accord to travel off the roadway and the motorcycle to burst into flames. As a result, Swiderski was thrown more than 140 feet to the eastbound shoulder of Route 37, police said. He was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The driver of the Accord, 20-year-old Job Martinez del Villar of Manchester, was also brought to Community Medical Center for treatment and evaluation of non-life threatening injuries, police said.
Swiderski graduated from Brick Township High School in 2019 where he was a multi-sport athlete playing lacrosse and hockey.
The Brick Township High School Hockey Facebook group posted a tribute to him, stating: “It is with great sadness that we share the passing of one of our former players, Will Swiderski. Will, class of 2019, tragically lost his life yesterday. Will was a multi-sport athlete at Brick Township, although he only played hockey for a short time, his smile and outgoing personality will always be remembered. Will also served in the United States Marine Corps after graduation. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends.”
According to police, initial investigation suggests failure to obey a traffic signal and speed appear to be contributing factors.
Assisting at the scene were members of the Manchester Emergency Medical Services, Robert Wood Johnson Paramedics, Manchester Volunteer Fire Department, Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department, Lakehurst Borough Police Department, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigation Unit, New Jersey State Police, and NJ Department of Transportation. The roadway was closed for several hours during the investigation and roadway cleanup.
The crash is being investigated by Patrolman Jesse Hoydis of the department’s Traffic Safety Unit.
