N.J. State Trooper Dies After Car Crashes Into Deer

>>Read update: N.J. State Trooper Killed After Car Crashes Into Deer Identified

A state trooper died and another was injured after their car crashed into a deer early Saturday, police said.

The Ford Crown Victoria was patrolling eastbound on I-195 in Upper Freehold Township when it struck a deer, and then ran off the right side of the road and into some trees at at 12:48 a.m. No other vehicles were involved, police said.

The driver, a 24-year-old male trooper who was not immediately identified, was killed in the crash. He was taken to CentraState Hospital in Freehold where he was declared dead, police said.

The second occupant, Trooper Gene Hong, 29, was taken to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Hamilton where he was treated for lacerations and a neck injury. He is expected to be released soon, police said.

Both troopers were assigned to Hamilton Station, and were on-duty at the time of the accident.

This is the first line-of-duty death involving the New Jersey State Police since James Hoopes died in 2012.

The last traffic-related death was Trooper Marc Castellano, who was struck by a car while outside of his vehicle. Castellano was killed on I-195 in June 2010.

Photo: Trooper Anthony Raspa, courtesy of the State Police

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