Former coach remembers ‘amazing guy’
MONROE — The 25-year-old township man killed after being hit by a dump truck on Route 33 last Friday morning was remembered as a great teammate and soccer player at Rider University in Lawrence.
Matthew M. Welna, 25, of Monroe, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 6:36 a.m. accident on March 20.
“Matt was an amazing guy,” said Charlie Inverso, Rider University head soccer coach in an email on Saturday.
According to police, Mr. Welna was standing near his vehicle, which was parked on the westbound shoulder of Route 33 near the Perrineville Road intersection.
He then entered the right lane of the road for an unknown reason and was struck by a 2007 VHD dump truck operated by William H. Walker II, 60, of Hopewell, police said.
According to police, Mr. Welna suffered a severe head injury and multiple other injuries as a result of being hit by the truck.
The accident closed the westbound lanes of Route 33 for about five hours.
According to Rider University website, Mr. Welna was a 2012 graduate and 44-game veteran for the Broncs Men’s Soccer Team where he played the position of a midfielder.
He was a three-time Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All-Academic honoree. As a junior, he appeared in 13 games for the Broncs and as a Rider rookie he played in 18 games.
Mr. Inverso said he was someone that you could not help but like.
“He had such an easygoing personality and was always upbeat with a great smile and sense of humor,” he said. “He was honest, hard working, well mannered and really cared about people.”
Matt’s parents were first generation immigrants from Poland, Mr. Inverso said.
“He was raised with old fashioned discipline and values,” he said. “His parents should be so proud of the son that they raised.”
He said he talked to several of Mr. Welna’s former teammates and they are devastated by the news of his death.
“It is hard to understand why this happened to such a great guy who had so much to give,” he said.
According to Rider University’s merit pages, Mr. Welna received numerous degrees including a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in Finance and a Master of Accountancy in Accounting.
He was also named to the Rider University Dean’s List on three occasions.
Sgt. Sergeis Jangols and Patrolman Daniel Mosakowski of the Monroe Township Police Traffic Safety Division are investigating this crash.
