A Cliffside Park, N.J. police officer died two days after he was hit by an SUV while crossing the street with another officer.
Special Police Officer Stephen Petruzzello died Monday morning after succumbing to injuries sustained when he was struck Saturday evening, according to The Record.
Petruzzello was crossing Walker Street near First Street with Special Police Officer Thaier Abdallah around 6:30 p.m. Saturday when they were struck by a Honda CR-V driven by 62-year-old Anie Kalayjian, police said.
The 22-year-old officer was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 5 a.m. Monday. Abdallah suffered less serious injuries and was released from the hospital Sunday.
Kalayjian was issued motor vehicle summonses in connection with reckless driving, careless driving, failure to yield to pedestrians and seatbelt use, but has not yet been charged with a crime.
Petruzzello, 22, graduated from the police officer academy in November and his family was awarded his badge and made an honorary full-time officer by the police department.
"It's the town's way of saying, eventually, they know he would have made it" to become a full-time officer, Capt. Bart Spinelli, who lived across the street from Petruzzello, said.
Outside the municipal complex still decorated for Christmas, workers hung purple and black bunting in Petruzzello's memory. The flag was lowered to half staff and the police officers are wearing black bands over their badges.
Petruzzello is the department’s first line of duty death.
"This is clearly the saddest day I have had during my tenure as chief of the department," Police Chief Richard Gaito told the newspaper. "Officer Petruzzello was a bright, hardworking young man, with a lifetime of potential before him."
Funeral arrangements are pending.
