TOWN OF DEERPARK – A 16-year-old Delaware Valley High School junior in Pennsylvania was struck by a train and killed at a rural location in the Town of Deerpark Monday morning.
According to the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the teen was fatally struck by NJ Transit Train #NJ43 about 1.5 miles east of Port Jervis’ train station at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 22. NJ Transit operates Metro-North Railroad service on the Port Jervis Line.
The teen, identified by the MTA as Riley Krick of Milford, PA and confirmed via official school notification and online messages and social media posts, has left many questions unanswered about his sudden death.
Dozens of social media posts note the shared grief the Milford teen’s death has brought. Content expresses Krick’s death as sudden, completely unexpected, and carrying grief shared by his close-knit family, friends, classmates, and church, youth, school, and community groups.
Krick’s pastor, contacted by phone, described the teen as athletic, intellectual, musical, active in his school, church, and community, fun, friendly, and in close connection with his loving family and others around him.
“It’s a tragedy and a mystery. I can say that as much as we know people, so many of a person’s thoughts and feelings are just not revealed,” said Rev. Niels Nielsen, pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. “I don’t want to oversell this family, but they are a wonderful, close family. This is just a horrible tragedy and mystery.”
Nielsen said he, and Krick’s family, stress the need to pay close attention to loved ones, no matter how good things may appear.
Grief counseling and additional resources have been offered by DVSD, Nielsen, and others for those needing support.
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