The close-knit borough of Middlesex, New Jersey, is struggling to make sense of the sudden passing of 17-year-old James Matula, a standout junior on the Middlesex High School Blue Jays baseball team, who died after being critically injured in a multi-vehicle crash last week. The community, where every local game is a collective celebration, now shares a profound sense of loss over one of their brightest young stars.
According to the latest reports, the accident took place on the evening of November 18 on I-287 south in Oakland Township, Bergen County. At around 9 p.m., state police were dispatched to the scene of a serious collision involving multiple vehicles: a Jeep SUV driven by Justin (Kristopher) Matula, 22, from Middlesex, with James as a passenger; a Kia SUV; a Ford construction vehicle; and a Volvo commercial truck. The chain of collisions began when the Kia struck the Ford, followed by the Jeep colliding with the Ford, then the Volvo colliding with the Kia, and finally the Kia again contacting the Ford. James was transported to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson in critical condition after being airlifted. He died from his injuries on November 22.
Matula’s connection to the baseball program ran deep. He had been a part of the Middlesex Little League system and onward into the high school varsity team, earning the trust of his coach and teammates early on. During the 2025 season he played left field and batted .263, with six RBIs in 44 plate appearances and a handful of stolen bases. His coach, Blaze Iannetti, described him as “the type of kid who could light up a room—always smiling,” adding that James was one of the team’s most dedicated players and a major force behind their Group 1 state championship win in June.
In the aftermath of the crash, the Middlesex community rallied. Teammates visited James at the hospital, and classmates, family, and neighbors gathered for a vigil at Our Lady of Mount Virgin Church on Harris Avenue, where prayers were offered and stories shared of his generous spirit. Meanwhile, a fundraising campaign titled “Donate to James Matula’s Healing and Hope” was launched, and by Monday more than 200 donors had contributed over $54,000—proof of the impact James made across families, friends, and neighbors. (Earlier figures showed $13,000 toward a $25,000 goal and later more than $38,000.)
One particularly poignant moment arrived when the team’s championship rings—originally scheduled to be presented the night of the crash—were brought to James in the hospital. Coach Iannetti confirmed that the ring was placed on James’s finger before he passed, giving the family and team a moment of solace amidst grief.
The school district has responded by mobilizing grief counselors and support staff to be available for students, faculty, and families. Superintendent Roberta Freeman noted in a letter to families that “a loss of this magnitude touches every corner of our schools… In times like these, it is important that we hold tightly to one another and extend compassion freely.” The ripple effects of James’s passing are being felt across the entire community.
As Middlesex mourns, his teammates have public tributes that capture his warmth and friendship: his best friend Chris Kozak posted, “No words will ever describe how much you meant to me… I am so grateful I got to be best friends with you for your entire 17 years of life… I know you will always be watching over me in everything I do because you were my brother.” Another teammate, Marcus Lavornia, called James his “first Middlesex friend” and said simply, “James, forever in my heart. I love you so much, brother.”
James’s story in Middlesex was about more than numbers or stats—he embodied the spirit of togetherness, the joy of playing for the Blue Jays, and the civic pride of coming from a small town where victories are shared and everyone knows each other’s name. Though he is gone far too soon, his impact remains: a reminder of youth, of community, and of the bonds formed on and off the field that last far beyond any game.
