Nathanal King, 26, was in a Hyundai Santa Fe traveling southbound in the right lane when his car struck the rear of a disabled tractor trailer near milepost 58 around 4:45 a.m., New Jersey State Police Sgt. Lawrence Peele said.
King was pronounced dead at the scene.
King was a graduate of Trenton Catholic Academy, where he excelled in both basketball and track and field.
In 2012, "The Trenton Monitor" penned an article about King's accomplishments at the non-public B track and field section and state championships.
"In a stunning display of power and strength, King captured two separate titles, in two completely opposite disciplines: a sectional title in the shot put, and a state title in the high jump...
"To put what he did in perspective, imagine Lebron James winning Olympic gold in basketball… and the 1500 meter run (the metric mile)."
Doing so captured a third-place sectional finish and fourth-place showing at the state meet.
The right two lanes of Interstate 295 were closed for approximately 4.5 hours.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
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