Funeral Held for NJ Trooper Struck by Car

Officers from as far as California and Texas came to pay respects

New Jersey state law enforcement bid a final farewell to Trooper Marc Castellano who was killed last week after being struck by a vehicle.

Law enforcement officers from as far as California and Texas were among the 2,500 paying respect to the fallen trooper during a funeral mass at Saint Veronica's Catholic Church in Howell Saturday morning.

Gov. Chris Christie, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, State Senate President Stephen Sweeney and State Attorney General Paula Dow were in attendance.

Trooper Castellano, 29, was assisting in a search for two people believed to have abandoned a vehicle that was the subject of a BOLO (Be on the look out) alert on interstate I95 at exit 31 ramp in Howell Township last Sunday morning, according to police.

While Trooper Castellano was searching for the abandoned vehicle a car then struck him on I95. He was rushed to Jersey Shore Medical Center where he later died because of his injuries.

Trooper Castellano was a 5-year veteran of the force. He is survived by his wife, his 4-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son.

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Copyright AP - Associated Press
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