An undated photo of Staff Sgt. Bryan Tomaszewski while deployed in Afghanistan. (Go Army Seattle/Facebook)
An Army recruiter who deployed to Afghanistan and served as a sniper in Europe died in a motorcycle crash in suburban Seattle on his way home to have lunch with his wife and young daughter, according to Army and police reports.
Staff Sgt. Bryan Rocky Tomaszewski, 28, was riding his motorcycle on Oct. 7 in Bellevue, Wash., when he collided with a vehicle making a turn. Tomaszewski was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical services. The male juvenile driver of the vehicle was initially arrested for driving under the influence and vehicular homicide, but in a videotaped hearing was released by a judge who cited a lack of evidence for prosecutors to proceed with either charge.
Lt. Col. David Sherck, commander of the Seattle Army Recruiting Battalion, praised Tomaszewski in a post on the “Go Army Seattle” official Facebook page.
“A bright, talented, and charismatic young man with an infectious positivity and an incredibly bright future cut short,” Sherck said. “His tragic and sudden loss has left a deep hole in the Trailblazer Battalion, in the Army, and, most importantly, with his family.”
The Army Combat Readiness Center at Fort Novosel, Ala., said an average of 29 soldiers have been killed each year since 2020 in motorcycle accidents.
Born at Langley Air Force Base, Va., in 1996, Tomaszewski joined the Army in 2015 after graduating from Jefferson High School in Shenandoah Junction, W.Va. He received infantry training at Fort Moore, Ga., and went on to serve at Fort Bliss and Fort Cavazos, Texas, in Vilseck, Germany, and with the Seattle Army Recruiting Battalion in Washington.
In 2017, Tomaszewski married Amber Starkey in Charles Town, W.Va. A daughter, Zofia, was born in June 2020.
Tomaszewski’s obituary said he deployed to Afghanistan. He was buried Oct. 26 at Edge Hill Cemetery in Charles Town, W.Va.
Tomaszewski is survived by his wife Amber, daughter Zofia, mother and father, Gloria and Michael, sister Christel and nephew Joziah.
