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Zachary Krawczyk of Chester, NY, who apparently had been returning home from a weekend softball game in Mercer County when the crash occurred.
Krawczyk was headed north when his Subaru rear-ended a Honda, running it into the center guardrail near mile marker 67.7, around 2:45 a.m. Sunday, New Jersey State Police Sgt. Philip Curry said.
"The Subaru ran off the road to the right and struck a tree," Curry said.
Krawczyk, was airlifted to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson, the sergeant said.
Responders said he sustained a severe head injury and was in a medically induced coma.
The Honda driver and passenger sustained minor injuries that weren't considered life-threatening, Curry said.
Route 287 was closed in both directions for about a half-hour so the chopper could land, he said. The right lane of the northbound side remained closed for nearly three hours altogether.
State Police were investigating the cause of the crash, Curry said.
Meanwhile, friends took to social media with words of encouragement. One of them called Krawczyk "one of most realest people you will ever meet," someone who "just never gives up no matter what.
"We all know you’re a fighter and gonna win this battle buddy you got this."
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