A car accident in Douglas, Wyoming, United States, claimed the life of a Jamaican student-athlete on Monday.
Nathan Reid, a 22-year-old University of Wyoming (UW) student, was known for his prowess in shot put and discus throw.
Construction workers discovered Reid at the accident site early in the morning.
A statement from UW indicated that Reid succumbed to injuries following what appeared to be a “single-vehicle accident” on US Highway 18/20 near Orin Junction and south of Douglas, Wyoming.
The university’s statement suggests that Reid’s vehicle was likely moving westbound on US Highway 18/20 approximately five miles east of I-25 near Orin Junction.
UW stated that Reid was preparing for his senior season, which was set to commence in the fall of 2023.
“Anytime you lose someone in the UW family it hurts, but it is extremely sad when the individual is a UW student,” said University of Wyoming Athletics Director Tom Burman, in the release.
Reflecting on Reid’s future, Burman added that Nathan had a bright future, and he was so well respected by his teammates and coaches.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, teammates, and friends,” he further said.
There have been tributes and expressions of shock on social media as people grapple with Reid’s untimely death.
Reid, an aspiring mechanical engineering major, hailed from Jamaica and had made a name for himself at Cornwall College in St. James before moving to the US.
He was the son of Supreme Court judge Icolin Reid, and attorney Dalton Reid.
World Athletics’ records shine a light on Reid’s athletic achievements, marking outdoor personal bests of 16.06 meters in the shot put and 55.59 meters in the discus throw.
Both records were set in 2022, the same year Reid received an All-America honor for ranking 23rd in the discus at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Reid’s death follows that of Jamaican native and New Jersey track star, Mario Heslop, who died on June 19th, following a three-vehicle collision in Somerset County, New Jersey.
According to reports, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office said that around 5:30 p.m. Monday, the 23-year-old was driving his vehicle eastbound on Hamilton Street in Franklin Township when his unit allegedly crossed the center line and collided with another car.
Reports are that the second car was then hit by a third vehicle traveling on the road.
Heslop was taken to a local trauma center where he was pronounced dead.
