HAMILTON – The East Windsor teen struck and killed by an NJ Transit train Sunday was a star soccer player for Notre Dame High School who recently signed a letter of intent to play in college.
Jacob J. St. Phard, 18, was struck on the tracks just west of the Hamilton train station around 8:20 p.m. by a train heading for maintenance in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, NJ Transit spokesman Jim Smith said.
Coby St. Phard in this 2014 file photo. St. Phard, who went by the nickname Coby, was a senior at Notre Dame High School in Lawrence Township. In December, he committed to play soccer for Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania. He led Notre Dame in assists and was second on the team in goals in the 2015 season.
Chad Bridges, who said he had the unenviable opportunity to coach against St. Phard on several occasions as the head soccer coach at Pennington High School remembered the teen as an outstanding student-athlete.
“He was a funny, popular, smart kid who excelled in class and on the field,” Bridges said. “He was not only known at Notre Dame but all throughout Mercer County.”
A special Mass was held at Notre Dame Friday afternoon in honor of St. Phard. School officials said there were ministers and school counselors available to grieving students.
“The Notre Dame Family deeply mourns the loss of a member of the Class of 2016,” read a message posted to the school’s website. “Campus Ministers, our Chaplain, Guidance Counselors and Faculty are caring for our students. The Notre Dame community will gather at 1 p.m. for mass to pray for God’s love and support for the family and our community in this difficult time.”
Bridges called St. Phard’s death tragic, and said the teen was “a remarkable young man” whose love for the game of soccer was unmatched.
“He was so good, so fast,” Bridges said. “As a coach I just sat and admired him as an athlete.”
Notre Dame Athletic Director Richard Roche on Monday directed to questions to the school’s communication’s department, which did not immediately answer a message. A spokeswoman for the Diocese of Trenton also could not be immediately reached.
“Thank you to my parents, coaches, teammates, crazy friends, and even those not in my life anymore who have supported me and had a part in this process,” St. Phard said on a National Signing Day photo he posted to his Instagram account.
Amtrak worker struck and killed by train
Smith said the investigation is ongoing to determine why St. Phard was on the tracks. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
No passengers were on board the train, which was operated by a crew of three, Smith said.
St. Phard also played soccer for East Brunswick United, a soccer club in Middlesex County.
A photo posted by Coby St Phard (@coby_stphard) on Feb 12, 2016 at 1:22pm PST
Keith Brown may be reached at kbrown@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBrownTrenton. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.
