John Forbes Nash, Jr., the subject of the movie A Beautiful Mind, was killed Saturday afternoon in a car accident.
New Jersey State Police have confirmed that John Nash and his wife Alicia Nash were killed in a car crash on the New Jersey Turnpike at about 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. The couple was travelling in the back of their taxi when their driver lost control for unknown reasons while passing. The taxi crossed the roadway and struck the guardrail, making contact with another vehicle.
Traffic Delays NJTPK. SB in area of MP72,4, Monroe Twp.. Fatal MVA Invest.
— NJSP - State Police (@NJSP) May 23, 2015
Both John and Alicia Nash were ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, says Sergeant First Class Gregory Williams. The taxi driver was initially trapped in the vehicle before being freed by the fire department and transported by medevac to hospital. A passenger in the other vehicle was also injured and transported to hospital.
The crash is still under investigation, but preliminary findings indicate that the couple was likely not wearing seat belts.
John Nash. (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)
John Nash’s life story was portrayed in A Beautiful Mind, which won Best Picture and three other Oscars in 2002. In 1994, he won the Nobel Prize in economics.
Princeton University has released a statement on the tragedy, saying that the couple was on their way from Norway where John Nash had received the Abel Prize with long-time collaborator Louis Nirenberg of New York University's Courant Institute of Mathematics.
"We are stunned and saddened by news of the untimely passing of John Nash and his wife and great champion, Alicia," President Christopher L. Eisgruber said. "Both of them were very special members of the Princeton University community.”
Theatrical poster for A Beautiful Mind. (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)
"John's remarkable achievements inspired generations of mathematicians, economists and scientists who were influenced by his brilliant, groundbreaking work in game theory, and the story of his life with Alicia moved millions of readers and moviegoers who marveled at their courage in the face of daunting challenges," said Eisgruber.
Russell Crowe, who played John Nash in A Beautiful Mind said on Twitter that his heart went out to the Nashes and their family. “An amazing partnership. Beautiful minds, beautiful hearts.”
John Nash was 86 years old when he died, and his wife Alicia was 82.
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