New Jersey state trooper killed in deer crash laid to rest

UPPER FREEHOLD TWP., N.J. (WABC) -- Family, friends and police officers gathered Thursday to bid a final farewell to a state trooper who was killed in a crash last weekend.

Funeral services for 24-year-old Anthony Raspa were held at St. Matthias Church in Somerset.

He died Saturday morning when his cruiser hit a deer and then crashed into a tree on Interstate 195 in Monmouth County.

Gov. Chris Christie, who was in attendance, ordered all flags on state buildings to fly at half staff.

Raspa was single and lived in Highland Park. He had been on the job for less than two years, assigned to Troop C in Hamilton Township.

State Police spokesman Capt. Stephen Jones said the second trooper who was in the car was treated at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Hamilton. Twenty-nine-year-old Gene Hong suffered lacerations and a neck injury, and was released Saturday morning.

Raspa's family released a statement Saturday saying they had lost "a 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," the statement said.

Authorities say the last trooper to die while on duty was James Hoopes, who died in 2012 after suffering a heart attack during a training session.

The last traffic-related death of a trooper was Marc Castellano, who was struck by a car in June 2010 while outside of his vehicle on I-195. Castellano and other officers were investigating a woman's claim - later found to be false - that a man had held her at gunpoint and forced her to speed away from a traffic stop.