Traffic death of teen mourned in Burlington City
Antwan L. Timbers Jr. aspired to join the Army, like his two older cousins. He was in the Junior ROTC class at Burlington City High School, where he would have been promoted Tuesday from staff sergeant to second lieutenant.
Antwan L. Timbers Jr. aspired to join the Army, like his two older cousins.
He was in the Junior ROTC class at Burlington City High School, where he would have been promoted Tuesday from staff sergeant to second lieutenant.
"He really knew what he wanted to do," said his father, Antwan Sr.
The family joined city and school officials at Burlington City Hall to remember the 17-year-old high school sophomore and his dream Monday, one day after an allegedly drunk driver struck and killed him. Police said he was walking home on a sidewalk near southbound Route 130 and Federal Street just after midnight Sunday.
"This is a tragic accident that should not have happened," Antwan Timbers Sr. said, standing next to the teenager's mother, Angela Conner, and about 15 other relatives.
The driver, Ricardo J. Patterson III, 42, remained at the scene and received traffic summonses for driving under the influence and reckless driving. The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office said Patterson could also face criminal charges, pending the outcome of an investigation.
Patterson had his blood drawn after the crash at Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County and was released from custody, police said. Toxicology results are pending. No one answered the door at his family's Willingboro home Monday.
Antwan Timbers Sr. said his son may have been coming from a nearby Wawa store when the accident occurred. A friend was walking with him but was not injured.
City, school and police officials pledged to rally around the family.
"We are going to wrap our arms around them to protect them and make sure we are here for them each step of the way," Mayor Barry Conaway said.
Timbers Jr. has two sisters and one brother.
Officials from Burlington City High School said he was a smart young man with a bright future, and called him a leader in the ROTC group.
"It is a devastating loss to all of our staff and students at Burlington City High School," principal James Flynn said. "Antwan will be greatly missed."
The last time a car fatally struck a pedestrian in Burlington City was in November 2014, when city resident Cornell Chapman, 41, tried to cross a lowly lit stretch of Route 130 near Logan Avenue at night. Police said he was walking home from a friend's house.
The driver in that accident was not intoxicated and was not charged, police said.
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