Former London high school football players among area reservists killed in crash

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The death of a London-based military officer in a horrific crash in New Brunswick that also killed two other reservists from southwestern Ontario has shocked the city’s football community, his former coach says.

Lieutenant Somebi Uzoegwu of the 1st Hussars died in a single-vehicle crash early Sunday morning in Sheffield, New Brunswick, about 40 kilometres from Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, the largest military base in eastern Canada.

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“A lot of people are shocked by the tragedy of the event,” said Jean-Paul Circelli, who coached Uzoegwu at Catholic Central High in London and is now the head football coach at the University of Windsor.

“Anytime someone loses their life at such a young age, someone who was serving their country, it’s definitely a shock and a tragic loss of life.”

Uzoegwu played high school football in London more than a decade ago before joining the University of Windsor Lancers.

Circelli remembers Uzoegwu as a “quiet, hard-working individual” who was well-liked in the football community.

“He had an infectious smile and he was the type of player that other players were drawn to, because that was the type of player he was and that was his work ethic,” Circelli said.

Neither the RCMP nor the military have publicly identified any of the soldiers killed in the crash, but an online fundraising campaign has been launched for a second London soldier, Kevin Nkubito, who also died Sunday, according to the GoFundMe account.

Circelli said he also played football for Catholic Central.

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“Known for his kindness and generosity, he would do anything for those he loved,” according to the fundraiser’s website, which was organised by Janessa Nkubito. “His caring personality was the hallmark of his personality. Even the briefest encounter left a lasting impression.”

Nkubito’s fundraiser is to help pay for “accommodation, transportation and any additional assistance the family may need to get to and from Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa where a military burial will be held to honour his service,” the post reads.

The National Military Cemetery is located at Beechwood Cemetery in the nation’s capital.

The deaths of the three area reservists killed in the New Brunswick crash — one from the 1st Hussars, based in London and Sarnia, and two from the 4th Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, based in London and Stratford — were reported earlier this week in a post on a Facebook page associated with the 1st Hussars.

Relatives contacted by The London Free Press did not respond to requests for comment.

Authorities have not said what the reservists were doing in New Brunswick and why they were on the road shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday when the vehicle veered off the road, struck a tree and caught fire.

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The two London-area regiments form part of the 31st Canadian Brigade Group, which is part of the 4th Canadian Division.

On Friday, the division’s senior public affairs officer confirmed that three soldiers from the brigade group were killed in a non-duty-related car accident near Oromocto, NB on Sunday, but provided no other details.

“We are all thinking of their families and friends during this very sad time,” Maj. Christopher Daniel wrote in an email, adding that the investigation is being handled by the RCMP.

RCMP in Oromocto, New Brunswick, said they are not releasing the identities of the crash victims. Police had been using forensic testing to positively identify the deceased.

The Free Press reached out for comment to Lt. Col. Paul Williams, commander of the Canadian military base at Gagetown, and Lt. Col. Chris Vandenberg, commander of the 1st Hussars, but did not receive a response.

Calls to the public affairs officer for the 4th Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment were also not returned.

Earlier this week, in a post on the Facebook page associated with the 1st Hussars, Vandenberg said he was “deeply saddened” to hear of the accident. “The next few days will be difficult for the unit.”

The 1st Hussars is an armoured reconnaissance regiment and the 4th Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment is a reserve infantry unit.

Reservists are part-time workers who spend part of their careers training and being available for military service when needed. They also assist with disaster relief and recovery efforts and often train on weekends and weeknights.

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