Monmouth Co. Man Was Driver In Fatal Taconic Crash That Killed Coach, 3 Others

NEW JERSEY — Four Monmouth County men were involved in a fatal crash Wednesday afternoon on the Taconic Parkway in New York state, which took the life of a popular high school football coach from Bergen County.

New York State Police say the four Monmouth County men were in a Ram ProMaster van, with a Long Branch man at the wheel, that crossed lanes on the Taconic and slammed into a Honda headed in the opposite direction.

The driver of the Honda, Rob Violante of Granite Springs, N.Y., was hospitalized and died later, police said. He was a beloved football coach at Bergenfield High School in Bergen County and was heading home from work at the time, school officials said.

The head-on collision took place at 4:46 p.m. Wednesday. The van overturned and burst into flames.

The driver of the van, Yader A. Reyes, 50, of Long Branch, survived and is currently hospitalized in critical condition at Westchester Medical Center. The three other men in the van were identified as Odenis Balladares Martinez, 20, of Neptune, Harrison Mauricio Reyes Rivera, 34, of Long Branch, and Bryan Aguilar Castillo, 45, of Asbury Park. They all died in the crash, said New York State Police.

Violante is being mourned and is remembered as a "gentle giant" who was beloved by his players and high school community. He is the son of Glen Rock High School Athletic Director Frank Violante and played quarterback at the University of Delaware.

Bergenfield Mayor Arvin Amatorio said Thursday, "On behalf of the borough of Bergenfield, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Violante family and to all who knew and loved Coach Rob. He was more than a coach, he was a mentor, father figure, and a source of strength for our students and community. His impact as head football coach and dean of students will never be forgotten."

Bergenfield Superintendent of Schools Christopher Tully said, "[He] began his career in the district as a special-education teacher in an elementary behavioral disabilities classroom — where many fondly compared him to Arnold Schwarzenegger's character in Kindergarten Cop, a gentle giant...he was a mentor, a father figure, and a true friend to so many. He always put students first."

READ MORE: Officials, Coaches Mourn Beloved Football Coach Killed In Crash