Speeding and careless New Jersey state trooper killed in motor vehicle crash
Monday, May 21, 2018 04:39PM
TRENTON, New Jersey (WABC) -- A New Jersey State Police trooper died in an off-duty motor vehicle crash in Pennsylvania Sunday night.
The accident happened on I-78 in Berks County. Trooper Brian McNally was a member of the 154th State Police Class, which graduated August 29, 2014. He was assigned to Washington Station.
Prior to becoming a member of the New Jersey State Police, McNally graduated from the Citadel Military Academy and was a Captain in the United States Marine Corps Reserves.
"The men and women of the State Police are devastated by the tragic loss of Trooper McNally," acting State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan said. "Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with his family. Brian's life was a testament to his dedication to service of both state and country."
The crash is being investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police.
McNally, 30, of Bedminster, was driving east on I-78 in Berks County, Pa., around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, coming home from weekend duty with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves.
As traffic slowed, he moved to switch lanes and struck a tractor trailer, which caught fire along with his SUV, according to police.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
"Tammy and I are deeply saddened by the death of Trooper Brian McNally, who was killed in an off duty car crash yesterday evening while returning from weekend military service in Pennsylvania," Governor Phil Murphy said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the McNally family and the New Jersey State Police at this difficult time."
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Speeding and careless New Jersey State Police Trooper Brian McNally, 30, killed in an off-duty motor vehicle crash on I-78 in Berks County in Pennsylvania Sunday night while returning from weekend military service in Pennsylvania. He failed to slow down due to construction and struck a tractor trailer, which caught fire along with his SUV.
He served his country, his state, his town. This is Brian McNally, trooper killed in car crash
Updated May 21, 8:17 PM; Posted May 21, 5:54 PM
State Trooper Brian McNally poses with the flag of his military college in Afghanistan during a tour of duty. McNally was killed in a crash Sunday while off duty. (Photo courtesy Kevin McNally) By Amanda Hoover
ahoover@njadvancemedia.com,
NJ Advance Media For NJ.com
The New Jersey State Trooper who died in an off-duty crash always knew he wanted to serve in the military and had dreamed of taking over his hometown police department as chief one day.
"He's very focused," Brian McNally's father, Kevin, said in a phone call with NJ Advance Media from his Morristown home Monday afternoon. "He always wanted to be in the military, always wanted to be in the Marines and always wanted to be the chief of police."
Trooper Brian McNally, 30, was killed in a crash in Pennsylvania Sunday. McNally, 30, of Bedminster, was driving east on I-78 in Berks County, Pa., around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, coming home from weekend duty with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves.
As traffic slowed, he moved to switch lanes and struck a tractor trailer, which caught fire along with his SUV, according to police.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
McNally was a graduate of Morristown High School, where he played football. He received a scholarship to study at Citadel Military Academy in Charleston, South Carolina, his father said.
He served oversees for seven months in Afghanistan, Kevin McNally said.
After returning home, McNally attended the State Police Academy and graduated in 2014, and was assigned to the Washington barracks in Warren County.
"The men and women of the State Police are devastated by the tragic loss of Trooper McNally," Colonel Patrick Callahan, acting superintendent of the State Police, said in a statement. "Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with his family. Brian's life was a testament to his dedication to service of both state and country."
McNally's father said his son knew from an early age that he wanted to spend his life serving his country and community. At 14, he became EMT with the Morris Minute Men in Morris Township, and a volunteer firefighter at 16.
"Tammy and I are deeply saddened by the death of Trooper Brian McNally, who was killed in an off duty car crash yesterday evening while returning from weekend military service in Pennsylvania," Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement Monday. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the McNally family and the New Jersey State Police at this difficult time."
Kevin McNally said services for his son will likely be scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. In addition to his father, he leaves behind his mother and a sister.
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Off-duty N.J. State Police trooper dies in I-78 wreck in Pa.
Updated May 21, 5:08 PM; Posted May 21, 1:09 PM
New Jersey State Trooper Brian McNally (Courtesy photo)
By Tony Rhodin
arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com,
For lehighvalleylive.com
An off-duty New Jersey State Police trooper died Sunday evening in a crash in Berks County, Pennsylvania State Police report.
Brian McNally, 30, of Bedminster, New Jersey, was driving east at 6:30 p.m. on Interstate 78 in Greenwich Township approaching slowing traffic due to a construction site beyond the Lehigh County line, police said.
He switched from the left lane into the right before rear-ending a tractor-trailer driven by Nuritdin Juraev, 33, of Windsor, Maryland, police said.
The SUV and the rear of the trailer caught fire, police said.
McNally was pronounced dead at the scene by the Berks County coroner, police said.
By Tony Rhodin
arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com,
For lehighvalleylive.com
An off-duty New Jersey State Police trooper died Sunday evening in a crash in Berks County, Pennsylvania State Police report.
Brian McNally, 30, of Bedminster, New Jersey, was driving east at 6:30 p.m. on Interstate 78 in Greenwich Township approaching slowing traffic due to a construction site beyond the Lehigh County line, police said.
He switched from the left lane into the right before rear-ending a tractor-trailer driven by Nuritdin Juraev, 33, of Windsor, Maryland, police said.
The SUV and the rear of the trailer caught fire, police said.
McNally was pronounced dead at the scene by the Berks County coroner, police said.
Driver dies after SUV rear-ends tractor-trailer
The crash happened Sunday evening as traffic slowed for construction.
Juraev was treated for minor injuries at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township, police said.
McNally was a Marine on his way home from weekend duty in the Reserves, police said. He was stationed at state police's Washington barracks in Warren County, police said.