[Baltimore Sun] Reisterstown teen dies after UTV goes over cliff in West Virginia, family says. ‘He loved everybody.’
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An 18-year-old from Reisterstown died after riding a utility task vehicle off a cliff while at a family gathering on the Fourth of July, family members said.
JaJa Williams was with his father and two sisters in Scarbro, West Virginia, to celebrate the holiday, said Alvera Newbill, his mother.
Williams and nine other family members went to the woods to ride a UTV, said his father, Onaje Williams. While JaJa Williams was riding as a passenger, the vehicle hit a tree stump, which caused the driver to lose control, Onaje Williams said.
They dropped 100 feet off a cliff and flipped several times, his father said. JaJa Williams was pronounced dead two days later, and five others were injured, his father said.
One person is still in the hospital with a broken neck and could be paralyzed, according to family.
Williams had just celebrated his 18th birthday on June 12 and was a 2024 graduate of Franklin High School. He was on the track, football and wrestling teams and was part of the U.S. Marine Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.
He had been preparing to join the U.S. Army Reserve and received a scholarship to attend the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, his mother said. He’d planned to study medical science, particularly virology, at UMBC.
“Ja was a very loving person,” his mother said. “He loved everybody.”
His older sister, Adia Williams, echoed the sentiment, describing a laid-back individual who got along with people. He was hardworking and dedicated to his commitments such as sports, she said.
“He was a very easygoing person,” his older sister said. “He never got upset about anything. He never held grudges. He made everyone around him enjoy life because he enjoyed life.”
His younger sister, Amirah Williams, said: “He was a very strong and independent person. Even though he was a strong person, he still was a great mentor to all ages. JaJa helped people that didn’t know that they needed help.”
JaJa Williams (left) wrestling for Franklin High School earlier this year. The teen died this month. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
His father said he has seen his son’s imprint since his death.
“Unfortunately, you never know the impact until something like this happens,” his father said. “He was so involved at his school that he had a great impact after only three years.”
William C. Brown Community Funeral Home in Baltimore is hosting the visitation in its chapel at 5 p.m. Friday. A remembrance service is being held at Franklin High School at 11 a.m. Saturday.
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