WEST POINT, N.Y. — Chris Morgan of West Orange was killed in an accident at West Point on Thursday, the cadet’s father confirmed Friday.

A vehicle loaded with West Point cadets on summer training overturned in rough, wooded terrain, killing Morgan, 22, and injuring several others. The tactical vehicle operated by two soldiers overturned around 6:45 a.m. as it was headed to a land navigation site as part of standard summer cadet training, said West Point’s superintendent, Lt. Gen. Darryl A. Williams.

In an interview at the family home on Friday morning, Chris Morgan Sr. said his son was a hero, a shining star and an inspiration to everyone around him.

Chris Morgan of West Orange in this 2015 photo from the Essex County Wrestling Tournament at Richard J. Codey Arena in West Orange. (NJ Advance Media file photo)NJ Advance Media file photo

“I’ll always miss him. There’s no changing that. It’s tough -- I’ll always love him and that will never go away. That will never change. He will always be here," he said, putting his hand over his heart.

Chris Morgan was a standout wrestler for West Orange High School, and continued to wrestle while at West Point. He was a member of the Class of 2020 and graduated from West Orange in 2015. He finished in fifth place in the 182-pound class at the state Wrestling Championships in 2015 after a season that included a 30-1 record with 20 pins. He was also 42-2 his senior year — the most wins ever in a season for a West Orange wrestler.

“He always had this nine-year-old, pure-authentic energy. He just believed in the good in the world, and you saw it in everything that he did. He was a hero to so many people and an inspiration," West Orange wrestling coach Stephan Zichella said. "He left his mark on this community and on so many people. He was the hardest-working kid I’ve ever coached and the highest-character kid. It’s a terrible day right now in West Orange.”

West Essex coach Greg Ruggiero told NJ Advance Media after Morgan competed in the Essex County Tournament in January 2015 he was "a true gentleman. He’s the type of guy that would go out of his way to say hello to anyone. Everything he’s achieved is well-deserved.”

WOHS wrestler Chris Morgan, who shattered school wrestling records, is heading to West Point.http://t.co/9CxlIygUCC pic.twitter.com/IQLuI2dmZB — West Orange Schools (@woschools) March 26, 2015

A high school friend, Brandon Edwards, said Morgan was a great person who worked hard and made everyone around him smile. The two met playing football together at West Orange High School.

“Even if he didn’t know you, he would say hi to you in the hallway,” Edwards said in a phone interview Friday morning. “He would stop to talk to you, make sure you’re having a good day, and if not, he’d do everything in his power to turn that frown into a smile.”

Morgan was a big role model for him in high school. Morgan acted like a big brother to Edwards, urging him to join West Orange’s JROTC program. “I’m thankful I met him. I’m thankful that I did join that program. I just saw how much ROTC was changing his life and I thought maybe it would change mine,” he said.

Morgan was passionate about wrestling and football in high school, Edwards said.

“He was great at everything he did from sports to school work. He always wanted to be the best,” said Edwards, who added Morgan was known as C.J. and Chicago around school, after the city he was born in. “He didn’t even get to graduate West Point. He had so much stuff he wanted to do in life and it ended short.”

“We are devastated by the news of Chris’ passing. He was a talented, hardworking, and determined athlete who loved his sport,” said Army West Point Wrestling Coach Kevin Ward. “Chris had an infectious personality with a smile big enough to fill any room, and a heart big enough to love everyone around him. He made everyone around him better and he will be greatly missed.”

The Corps of Cadets will hold a vigil to honor Morgan tonight. A memorial ceremony for the West Point community and private funeral service will be held at the academy next week.

Two soldiers were also injured, along with 19 cadets in the Class of 2020, in the crash. Williams said none of the injuries were life-threatening. Injuries included broken arms and facial abrasions, an official with the hospital at West Point said.

West Pointer Chris Morgan (WOHS Class of 2015), Naval Academy Upperclassman Dylan Pennell (WOHS Class of 2014) and West Point freshman Andrei Rosu (WOHS Class of 2017) at the #ArmyNavyGame on Dec. 9. @WestPoint_USMA @USNavy #WestOrangeNJ pic.twitter.com/uIDRRGiD7J — West Orange Schools (@woschools) December 12, 2017

“It is not common for these vehicles to turn over. It is very rough terrain,” Williams told reporters at a briefing near the accident site Thursday afternoon. “You can see the hills we have here.”

Helicopter footage from WNBC showed a truck flipped over in a wooded area.

The investigation is continuing, Williams said, and “we don’t know the details of how the accident actually happened.”

The “light medium tactical vehicle” that rolled over has a 5-ton payload and an extended bed, according to West Point. That vehicle class has a passenger capacity of 20, not counting those in the cab, according to an Army technical bulletin.

It was not clear whether all the cadets were aboard the vehicle, as opposed to nearby, academy spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Ophardt said.

President Donald Trump tweeted Thursday afternoon: “So sorry to hear about the terrible accident involving our GREAT West Point Cadets. We mourn the loss of life and pray for the injured. God Bless them ALL!”

NJ West Point Cadet CJ Morgan leaves behind a legacy of courage and sacrifice. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Morgan family and all of those affected by this tragedy.



Full statement here: https://t.co/XQezmuizT6 — Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) June 7, 2019

Classes ended at West Point last month, but the academy runs summer military training exercises for cadets in the heavily wooded hills outside the main gates. The rollover occurred on a fire break road as the vehicle was leaving Camp Natural Bridge, where trainees live during the summer, Ophardt said.

West Point is on the Hudson River about 50 miles north of New York City.

It was the second cadet death at West Point this year. Cadet Peter Zhu died in February after a skiing accident.

This post contains material from the Associated Press.

Matthew Stanmyre may be reached at mstanmyre@njadvancemedia.com . Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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