GIANT LOSS
Trenton arena football player killed in head-on crash, team to pay tribute to him before Friday’s game >>
TRENTON » John Williams was signed to play for a different arena football team this season.
But when the Jersey Flight announced it would be bringing a team to Trenton this year, the 30-yearold defensive back decided to change his mind.
“He said he’d rather play close to home,” Jersey Flight coach Jake Grande said Wednesday in a phone interview. “He had an opportunity to play close to home where his family could come see him play. He was really excited about that.”
Williams, a Ewing native, played admirably for the Flight’s first two games, notching several key tackles.
But tragically a day after the team’s opener on April 6, Williams was killed in a car crash in Pemberton Township.
Williams, of Hamilton, was traveling east on Juliustown Road in his 2006 Infiniti G36 shortly before midnight on April 7 when he veered into the westbound lane and collided head-on with a Jeep, Pemberton police said. Williams was not wearing a seat belt and died at the scene from his injuries, police said.
The driver of the other vehicle, John Albino, 48, of Manchester, was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Police said the crash is still under investigation and no summonses have been issued.
Like many arena football players, Williams had a day job.
“He’s one of those guys who worked a normal 9-5 job and then came to practice at night,” his coach said. “He would still be able to work his tail off. He really wanted to continue his career and continue to move up playing football.”
When he was not out on the football field, Williams worked at Rago Arts and Auctions in Lambertville.
“John was a valued member of the Operations and Rago team,” Rago COO Michael Ingham said in a Facebook post. “Master of the lighting and keeper of the light bulbs. He brought light into all of our lives ... We’ll miss you John.”
Williams played football for the Ewing Blue Devils in high school. He continued his playing career at Tabor College in Kansas.
Williams has played on a few different arena teams, even earning the American Indoor Football Defensive MVP honors in 2015 with the Reading, Pa.-based AllStarInc Panthers.
“John was an exciting young guy,” Grande said. “He played a lot for us this year. He was a great teammate to his teammates. He worked hard. He really enjoyed the game.”
The Flight, which are off to a 1-1 start, will pay tribute to Williams at its home game on Friday at the CURE Insurance Arena against the Richmond Roughriders.
“We lost a good member of our team,” Grande said. “Our players are upset. They’re looking to go out this weekend and do their best to play for him just like he would go out and play the game.”
The team plans to have a moment of silence for Williams on Friday before kickoff at 7 p.m. The players will also memorialize Williams with a special insignia on their helmets for the remainder of the season. A viewing of Williams is scheduled for Friday with the funeral set for Saturday.
“It’s going to be a tough role to fill losing a guy with his experience out there,” his coach said.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Williams’ family pay for funeral cost.
For more information on Friday’s game, visit jerseyflightfootball.com.
Police are asking anyone with information about the crash or potential witnesses to call the Pemberton Township Police Department at (609) 894-3308 or Police Confidential Tip Line at (609) 894-3352.