Published in the Asbury Park Press Jan. 25, 2019
A soldier from Fair Haven was killed Tuesday evening in an Army training accident in Otero County, New Mexico.
Pfc. Jamie R. Riley, 21, died in a crash between two Stryker vehicles at McGregor Range, along with Cpl. Cole Trevor Wixom, 24, of Bloomingdale, Michigan. Both soldiers were assigned to 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, according to the U.S. Army.
Seven other soldiers were injured in the collision and are undergoing treatment.
“It is with an incredibly heavy heart that we announce the unfortunate loss of two of our Ready First soldiers and injuries to several others in a tragic event that occurred Tuesday evening,” said Col. Michael J. Trotter, commander of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, said in a prepared statement. “We honor them by remembering their selfless service to the U.S. Army and the nation. Our sincere condolences go to the families of Cpl. Wixom, Pfc. Riley and their Ready First teammates.”
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Riley was stationed at Fort Bliss El Paso, Texas and served as a cavalry scout. He had joined the Army one year ago and had been posted to Fort Bliss — which straddles the state borders of Texas and New Mexico — in June.
In a post on its Facebook page on Friday, the Fair Haven Fire Department wrote: “Hearts are broken in Fair Haven as we mourn the tragic loss of one of our hometown heroes, U.S. Army Pvt. First Class Jamie Riley. Keep his family, friends and fellow soldiers in your thoughts & prayers, including FHFD Life Member/Ex-Chief (grandfather) John Riley, Sr. and Ex-Chief (uncle) John Riley, Jr. God bless and thank you Jamie for serving your country.”
In the past year, Riley had received the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Air Assault badge.
Riley was the son of Plainfield Police Director Carl Riley. In a statement issued Thursday, Mayor Adrian O. Mapp said: “The administration is deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of Jamie Riley, son of our Police Director Carl Riley. Director Riley is a well loved and integral part of our City Hall family and all our hearts ache with him. We will do anything we can to provide support for him and his family during this extremely difficult time and will allow time for all employees who wish to do so to show their support, when arrangements have been finalized.”