New Brunswick man and former track star, 23, killed in Franklin crash
FRANKLIN (Somerset) - A New Brunswick man was killed and a Hillsborough resident was in a three-vehicle crash Monday at the intersection of Hamilton Street and Hillcrest Avenue.
Mario Heslop, 23, has been identified by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office as the person who died in the crash. Heslop, a native of Jamaica, was a former Franklin High School star track athlete.
The Hillsborough resident, who was not identified, suffered non life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital. The third driver was not injured in the crash and refused medical attention, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.
Around 5:30 p.m. Monday police and emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene and began administering lifesaving measures to a man, the driver of a 2013 Infiniti Q50S. The man later identified as Heslop was taken to an area trauma center where he died, the prosecutor's office said.
McDonald said a preliminary investigation indicates Heslop was traveling eastbound in the left lane when he crossed the centerline and struck the second vehicle which was traveling west in the left lane of Hamilton Street.
The second vehicle, driven by the Hillsborough resident, was then struck from the rear by a third vehicle which also was traveling west in the left lane of Hamilton Street.
Heslop is considered one of the best high school sprinters in state history. He won multiple championships for the Warriors. As a senior in 2019, he set the state auto-time record in winning the 200-meters at the outdoor Meet of Champions. He also won a gold medal in the 100-meter dash at the meet.
Looking back: NJ's greatest high school sprinter ever? Franklin's Mario Heslop makes a case
As a junior in 2018, he became the first runner to win gold medals in the 100 and the 400 in the 50-year history of the outdoor Meet of Champions.
His other notable accomplishments include setting the New Jersey indoor record in the 200 with a 20.90 in winning the New Balance Indoor Nationals in March 2019.
Franklin track coach Dashaun Gourdine spoke about Heslop to MyCentralJersey in April 2019.
“As much as he’s in the spotlight, he’s really a humble kid,” Gourdine said. “When he walks around the building, he’s not flashy. He just walks around like your average high school kid, but you can tell the difference when it’s time to go and compete. He just locks in and is focused on exactly what he has to do to help the team be successful and also to help himself be successful.”
More: Franklin's Mario Heslop looks for Jamaican reunion at Penn Relays
A GoFundMe.com page called Unexpected funerals costs has been set up by Colleen Bowen of Franklin Township on behalf of Heslop's mother Cynthia Mclean in an effort to raise $30,000.
Mclean said her son died in a car accident in Somerset on Monday.
"I am beyond broken and my words can't express the emptiness I feel inside," the page states. "Mario was an amazing son, friend, nephew, cousin, and uncle. Mario came from Jamaica in 2013 and resided in Somerset NJ. Mario had a passion for track and field and ran every chance he got. Mario participated in track and field in Jamaica. Mario ran for Franklin High School in Somerset NJ and continued in track and field in college. Mario competed after college in several national track and field competitions."
Patrol officers, traffic safety officers, and detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department, and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team responded to investigate the crash, the circumstances which remain under investigation.
Anyone with information about the fatal crash is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 or via the STOPit app. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
Staff Writer Andy Mendlowitz contributed to this report
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: New Brunswick man killed in Franklin 3-vehicle crash
