Yazid El Hilali, the 25 year-old Moroccan Accidentally killed in New Jersey,...

Yazid El Hilali, the 25 year-old Moroccan Accidentally killed in New Jersey, Will Be Remembered as Hard-Working Student Athlete

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The Moroccan Times
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25-year-old Yazid El Hilali
25-year-old Yazid El Hilali


The 25-year-old Moroccan student Yazid El Hilali, who passed away after he was struck by a van last weekend while he was walking along the shoulder of a road at around 3:48 a.m. in Wayne Township, N.J., was remembered by the director of the Engineering Entrepreneurship program of Villanova College and by his classmates, as well as by the former head coach of the Villanova University Rugby Football Club and former teammates.

The Villanova University Rugby Football Club said on its official Facebook page that it is indeed in deep sorrow following the death of “one of our own this week.”

The Facebook post read the following:

“Villanova Rugby mourns one of our own this week with the loss of former player Yazid “Rocco” [Yazid goes by the nickname Rocco] El Hilali. El Hilali (2012) was struck by a car in Wayne Township, NJ this Saturday and has been pronounced dead. The tragic death of El Hilali comes as a grievous loss to all the members of Villanova Rugby, past and present and we will be sure to keep our cherished teammate, along with his family and friends, in our thoughts and prayers.”

Former Villanova Rugby Head Coach Larry McManus was reported to say by SIlive.com the following:

 “I was heartbroken, I was crushed,” to learn that “Rocco” had died.”As a person, ‘Rocco’ was an absolute diamond. He was one of the nicest, most well-respected men that I ever had the pleasure of coaching.”

His coach remembers the late as “a faithful Muslim who fasted for Ramadan, even with the rigors of team practices and games,” said source reported.

In his turn, Ed Dougherty, director of the Engineering Entrepreneurship program at Villanova University said the following:”Yazid, or ‘Rocco,’ as was his nickname from the rugby field — being from Morocco — was one of my favorite engineering entrepreneurship students ever.

“He was incredibly pleasant, outgoing, kind and creative.  Even though he was from a land far away from Villanova, he fit in perfectly, working well with various academic and athletic teams.

“With the ability to speak multiple languages, having an excellent education in both technology and entrepreneurship, I expected great things in Yazid’s career and life, and was following it closely. I am heartbroken about this tragedy as it is a personal loss of a friend, but also a great loss to the world.”

According to the New Jersey Post, “Yazid El Hilali suffered a severe head injury and was transported to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center around 3:45 a.m., where he was pronounced dead about four hours later, Trooper Jeff Flynn said.”

Early reports about his death suggest that the late has parked his car along the shoulder of the road before walking on the same shoulder.

Before heading to the U.S. to pursue a university degree at Villanova College, Yazid studied in “Ecole Belbachir,” located in Hay Riad, Rabat.

In its turn, The Moroccan Times team would like to present its sincere condolences to the late’s family, his friends, as well as all people that know Yazid.

“Indeed to God we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.”

The Moroccan Times.

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