Former Collingswood High School sports star dies after car crashes in Pennsylvania

COLLINGSWOOD - A former stand-out athlete at Collingswood High School has died in a one-vehicle accident in Pennsylvania.

Ryan Rodgers, 18, was fatally injured in a June 26 crash in Franconia, according to police there.

Officers arrived to find Rodgers' vehicle had struck a tree around 7:15 a.m. They were able to remove Rodgers from the vehicle before it caught fire, said Franconia police.

More: Crash kills beloved employee Traffic accident ends 61-year career of Mary Jane Mullen at Lenape High School

He was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

Ryan Rodgers known as 'The Mayor'

Rodgers was a three-sport athlete at Collingswood High School, competing each year on the football, baseball and wrestling teams, the obituary said.

His outgoing personality led to a nickname, "The Mayor," it added.

A Courier-Post article in January 2022 described Rodgers, then the senior captain of Collingswood's wrestling team, producing a comeback win over West Deptford High School.

"It was very stressful," he said. "I just knew I had enough to fight it off.

"Coach (Dechlin) Moody pushes us in practice every day. I knew I could push myself to the limit to get the win."

A vigil for Rodgers will be held Friday, June 30, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Collingswood High School's football field.

Rodgers loved outdoor activities

Rodgers, who most recently lived in Souderton, attended Williamson College of the Trades and was a quarterback on the school's football team, the obituary said.

He was driving to work at Lehigh Valley Lawn when the accident occurred, it said.

Rodgers loved the outdoors, “spending his time snowboarding, hunting, fishing, and hitting the trails on his ATV,” according to the obituary.

It also recalled Rodgers’ “comedic and silly demeanor was a constant source of entertainment, brightening even the dullest of moments.“

A GoFundMe campaign is raising money for a planned scholarship fund in Rodgers' name. It had raised $3,800 by Thursday night.

Friends and relatives may call Wednesday, July 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. and Thursday, July 6, from 9 to 10:15 a.m. at Creran Celebration Etherington & Creran Funeral Homes, 400 White Horse Pike, Oaklyn.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Aloysius Church 37 W. Haddon Ave. Oaklyn.

A graveside tribute will take place at Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill.

This story may be updated.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email him at jwalsh@cpsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Ryan Rodgers, 18, dies when his car hit a tree in Pennsylvania