New Jersey Police Officer Killed in Crash While Driving to Work

May 30, 2017
Summit Police Officer Matthew Tarentino died in a three-vehicle crash while en route to work.

A Summit, New Jersey police officer was killed in a three-vehicle crash while on his way to work Tuesday morning.

Officer Matthew Tarentino was driving eastbound in I-78 when a car veered from the westbound lanes across the grassy median into oncoming traffic and hit two other cars, according to NJ.com.

The 29-year-old was the department's D.A.R.E. officer and was slated to participate in a graduation ceremony for the program for Summit's fifth grade students. The ceremony scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed.

"His devotion to his job and the community was unmatched," Summit Mayor Nora Radest said. "This is a tremendous loss for the city."

Tarentino and his wife have two children and were expecting their third child.

The drivers in the two other vehicles were injured and were brought to Morristown Medical Center. According to reports, one of the drivers died after the crash, but the identity of that person was not released.

New Jersey State Police is investigating the crash.

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