Services Announced For N.J. State Trooper Killed After Car Struck Deer

Funeral services for New Jersey State Trooper Anthony Raspa will be held Thursday in the Somerset section of Franklin.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. at Saint Matthias Church on Kennedy Boulevard, according to a news release from State Police.

“Anthony Raspa was an outstanding trooper and role model. He was highly regarded by his peers and supervisors alike and had limitless potential in his chosen profession. We are devastated by his passing. His family will always remain a part of our State Police family,” Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police said in a prepared statement.

Raspa, 24, was driving a Ford Crown Victoria on I-195 east in Upper Freehold at 12:48 a.m. Saturday when the car hit a deer, went off the side of the road and struck trees, police have said.

Raspa was pronounced dead at CentraState Hospital in Freehold Township. His partner, Trooper Gene Hong, 29, was treated at an area hospital for lacerations and a neck injury.

Raspa, a resident of Highland Park, was a graduate of Bishop George Ahr High School in Edison and the University of Delaware, according to NJ.com.

Over the weekend, his family released a statement:

“Today our family lost an incredible son, brother, grandson, cousin, friend and person. Anthony was a phenomenal young man with a heart of gold and a passion for life. While he is no longer physically with us, we are so grateful for the 24 years of love and loyalty we shared with him. Anthony was passionate about law enforcement and took great pride in being a NJ State Trooper. He will forever be in our minds and in our hearts. The family is so appreciative of all of the love and support. We ask that you respect our privacy at this time as we continue to grieve.”

Photo via New Jersey State Police Facebook page