1st Lt. John Levulis, 25 from Eden, New York, was traveling in a military convoy the evening of May 1 when a car collided with his Humvee carrying three other soldiers.
The four soldiers, members of the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, were traveling to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst near Trenton, New Jersey for military training at the time of the crash.
New Jersey State Police Spokesperson Captain Stephan Jones said a 2007 Nissan hit the Humvee from the back, causing it to be knocked off the road and overturned. The Humvee was the last military vehicle traveling in the convoy. The incident occurred at 11 p.m.
Levulis was seated at the rear passenger side of the vechicle and sustained head injuries. The driver, Bryce Leek, 35, of LaFargeville, New York, was thrown from the vehicle and sustained spinal and other internal injuries. Leek was airlifted to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton while First Lt. Levulis, along with Ainoy Rasvongsy, 34, of Watertown, New York, and Juan Ramirez, 21, of Livingston Manor, New York were transported by ambulance.
Col. Matthew Morris, 2nd Battallion deputy commander, expressed his condolences.
"Our 2nd BCT family mourns the loss of our soldier. In the coming days, we ask for everyone to keep our commando brigade and family members in their prayers," Morris said.
The driver of the Nissan has been charged with reckless driving. Additional charges may follow.
A memorial service for Levulis has not been announced yet.
