LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. — A tragic late-night crash has claimed the life of 22-year-old Rickey Boone Jr. after his vehicle left the roadway and became submerged in water near Quakerbridge Mall, according to local authorities. The sudden loss has left family, friends, and the community in mourning.
Officers with the Lawrence Township Police Department responded around 11:07 p.m. Thursday to Brunswick Pike northbound near the Kelly Viaduct, after a witness reported hearing a crash and spotting a dark-colored vehicle in the water. Upon arrival, officers discovered the vehicle fully submerged, with no signs that anyone inside had escaped.
Emergency crews from the Lawrence Township Fire Department, Lawrence Township EMS, and the Trenton Fire Department’s Water Rescue Team quickly arrived on scene. Rescue personnel entered the water and located the vehicle’s sole occupant inside. Despite their efforts, Boone was pronounced dead at the scene.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Boone was driving a 2012 Honda CR-V northbound when he lost control, veered off the roadway, and entered the water. Authorities confirmed that no other vehicles were involved in the crash, and the exact cause remains under investigation.
Beyond the tragedy of the crash, Boone is being remembered for the life he lived and the impact he made. A former basketball player at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School, he later continued his athletic career at Mercer County Community College, where he played during the 2022–23 season.
In a heartfelt statement, Mercer County Community College described Boone as a positive and uplifting presence, calling him “a beam of light” who brought energy and kindness wherever he went. As the investigation continues, the community is left grieving a young life lost too soon while holding onto the memories he leaves behind.