New Details On I-287 Car Crash That Killed 17-Year-Old Middlesex Baseball Player

MIDDLESEX, NJ — The Middlesex borough public school student who died this week was James Matula, 17, according to the head coach of his baseball team, Blaze Iannetti.

The teenage boy was involved in a car accident Nov. 18 on I-287 south, in Oakland Township, Bergen County. Just after 9 p.m., State Police were called to the scene of a serious crash.

Kristopher James Matula Jr., 22, of Middlesex, was driving a Jeep SUV and Matula was his front-seat passenger.

The Jeep was traveling behind a Ford construction vehicle. A Kia SUV was behind the Jeep, and a Volvo commercial vehicle was behind the Kia. A sequence of collisions occurred.

As a result, the younger Matula sustained serious injuries and was transported to St. Joseph's University Medical Center in Paterson, where he was hospitalized in critical condition for the next four days.

Kristopher Matula, and the driver of the Kia sustained moderate injuries and were transported to an area hospital. There were no other injuries reported at the scene.

The Matulas were returning home from a weekend trip to upstate New York.

The younger Matula died from his injuries Nov. 22.

Matula was a high school senior and a member of the Middlesex High School Blue Jays varsity baseball team. He helped the team win a Group 1 state championship this June.

The Middlesex Blue Jays baseball team traveled to St. Joseph's University Medical Center last week to visit Matula in the hospital — and say goodbye, said his coach, who fought back tears in an interview Tuesday.

"He was our starting left fielder," said Iannetti. "James was one of those guys who always played his heart out all the time. I remember him diving all over the field in practice. He always lifted all the players up. He always had a smile on his face. Just a great kid."

The boys were going to have their championship ring ceremony last Wednesday, but they postponed it. Iannetti said Matula's family brought the championship ring to the boy Friday when he was in the hospital. He died the next day.

Matula played outfield, and hit .263 in the 2025 season, with six runs batted in, 44 plate appearances and he had some stolen bases, CJS Sports Radio reported. On Facebook, members of the Middlesex borough community asked for prayers for Matula as he fought to survive.

This GoFundMe account was created for his family. Jersey Sports Zone shared this emotional video of Matula and his team celebrating after they won the championship in June.

"Jersey Sports Zone is heartbroken to hear the news of the death of James Matula following a motor vehicle crash," they wrote.

Grief counselors have on site at Middlesex High School starting Sunday, and will remain there all this week.

Middlesex Boro Grieving Death Of Student