Middletown Teen Dies In Skiing Accident In Berkshires

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — A 19-year-old man from the Lincroft section of Middletown died after a ski accident in the Berkshires Monday, according to local law enforcement and an announcement from the college where he was enrolled as a freshman, Williams College.

Alex Kemp died while skiing at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Hancock, Massachusetts, according to the Berkshire County District Attorney.

"With deep sadness, I write to tell you that first-year student Alex Kemp died yesterday (Tuesday), after a skiing accident on Monday," wrote Williams College president Maud Mandel in this letter to the community.

Sometime Monday afternoon, Kemp was skiing on a black diamond trail (Jiminy Peak's Cutter trail) and he went over an embankment on the left side of the trail. At 2:39 p.m. Monday, local police received a 911 dispatch call reporting someone had been badly hurt in a ski accident on the mountain. Jiminy Peak Ski Patrol and Northern Berkshire EMS responded.

Kemp was wearing a helmet, but his head injuries were too severe, said the District Attorney. There was no indication drugs or alcohol were involved.

He was taken to Berkshire Medical Center before being transferred to Baystate Medical Center, where he died. The accident happened Monday, and he died Tuesday.

Kemp graduated from the elite Christian Brothers Academy, the Christian boys prep school also located in Lincroft. He ran cross country for CBA and in his senior year helped lead them to a state championship, according to this Instagram post from CBA.

In fact, he had been recruited by Williams College to run cross country for their team. Williams College is located in Williamstown, MA, also in the Berkshires and near to the ski mountain where Kemp lost his life.

"Here are a few details about Alex, for those who did not have the good fortune to know him," wrote the Williams College president. "He came to Williams from Christian Brothers Academy in New Jersey, after being recruited by Cross Country coach Dusty Lopez. Christian Brothers has a nationally respected cross country program, and even as a first year here Alex quickly became a beloved and important member of the team, thanks to his talent and personality. Dusty says, 'Alex had a self-assured, positive, kind way about him and it was consistent every day. This made him such a valuable member of our team, even in his first year — above and beyond his obvious gifts as an athlete. He loved being at Williams, being part of our team, and he always knew how to bring others along with him."

"In his college application he said he hoped to complete a doctorate in computer science. But he was also enjoying courses in political science and economics.

"Alex was one of the strongest students I’ve taught in 21 years at the college," said Williams economic professor Dukes Love, who taught Alex this fall. "Economics seemed to come naturally to him, and he took an obvious joy in learning. He had a quiet gift for the subject matter, while at the same time always leaving room for discussion: He might have known the answer, but he wanted to leave room to talk about it.”

In high school, he volunteered at the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Kitchen in Monmouth County.

The college president wrote that Kemp ended his college essay with this quote: “Everyone needs someone to root for them and to remind them to always root for themselves.”

"That was the spirit described by so many people who knew him."