Former James Madison Football Player Luke Warner Dies in North Carolina Car Accident

The James Madison University community is mourning the loss of former football player Luke Warner, who died Thursday morning in a tragic three-vehicle crash in North Carolina. He was 26 years old.

According to reports, Warner was driving a Nissan Versa when a Toyota RAV4 struck his vehicle, causing it to collide with a North Carolina Department of Transportation truck. The DOT vehicle had been stopped in the westbound lanes while workers removed a deer carcass from the roadway.

Warner was pronounced dead at the scene. The drivers of the Toyota RAV4 and the DOT truck sustained minor injuries.

Authorities charged the driver of the Toyota with failure to reduce speed and misdemeanor death by vehicle, according to reports from local media outlets.

A native of North Carolina, Warner graduated from James Madison University in 2022 and spent two seasons with the Dukes football program. The defensive lineman joined JMU in 2018 as a true freshman during the final season under former head coach Mike Houston. He later redshirted during the 2019 campaign, a season in which the Dukes captured a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championship.

Following news of Warner’s passing, James Madison Football shared a heartfelt message on social media.

“We are deeply saddened to hear about the loss of former Duke Luke Warner. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with his friends, family, and members of our program,” the program stated.

The loss has deeply affected the JMU community, where Warner was remembered not only as a student-athlete but also as a valued member of the Dukes family.

James Madison University has made grief counseling resources available through its Counseling Center during the summer months. The services are accessible to students and faculty regardless of their location.

As family, friends, former teammates, and members of the JMU community grieve this heartbreaking loss, they continue to remember Warner’s impact on and off the field.

Please keep the Warner family, friends, and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.