Pedestrian struck and killed in Middletown was beloved school custodian

Students at the Harmony School in Middletown will return to class today absent a familiar face. Custodian John Chambers was struck and killed in a pedestrian accident in Port Monmouth on Saturday.

"Mr. John" was the daytime custodian at the school — a lifelong resident of Middletown who once owned his own landscaping business before he worked in the school system, according to principal Erik M. Paulson.

"He was often the first face children would see in the morning and during lunch period. John loved working with our students, staff and PTO to ensure our daily operations ran safely and smoothly," Paulson wrote in a letter to the school.

Chambers' wife, Melissa, is a paraprofessional at the Harmony School, according to Paulson. He was also father to a 15-month-old daughter.

Counselors will be available at the school to help students and staff cope with Chambers' death. Middletown Police said Chambers was killed as he crossed Route 36 at Main Street on Saturday night. The driver remained at the scene and has not been charged according to police.

Chambers was a member of the Middletown Fraternal Order of Police No. 53. The group has created a GoFundMe page to accept donations for his family. More than $11,000 had been donated as of early Monday morning.

Deputy Police Chief Stephen Dollinger has said Chambers, 36, was crossing the road at Main Street in Port Monmouth when he was hit by a car traveling westbound. Chambers was pronounced dead at the scene and the road was closed for several hours for an investigation.

The driver, who remained at the scene after the incident, has not been charged. Police are continuing to investigate the cause and circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call Middletown police at 732-615-2045.