Funeral For NJ Trooper Struck And Killed By Passing Car On I-295
CINNAMINSON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A New Jersey state trooper killed in the line of duty has been laid to rest.
Hundreds of mourners gathered Monday at Saint Charles Borromeo Church in Cinnaminson for Trooper Sean Cullen's funeral. The 31-year-old trooper was born in Dublin, Ireland and had been a trooper for about two years.
The 31-year-old Cullen was responding to a car fire on Interstate 295 in Deptford Township when he was struck by a passing motorist last Monday. He succumbed to his injuries Tuesday.
Acting Gov. Kim Guadano attended the funeral in place of Gov. Chris Christie, who was campaigning out of state for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Monday.
"Every day, the men and women of the New Jersey State Police put their lives on the line to protect our citizens," Christie said in a statement last week. "The sudden and tragic loss of New Jersey State Trooper Sean Cullen reminds us how fragile life truly is and the dangers police officers face daily on the job."
It was the third funeral for an officer that Christie has missed since December.
On Sunday, hundreds police officers, family members and friends came to pay their respects at Saint Charles Borromeo Church.
New Jersey State Trooper's union president Christopher Burgos says Cullen was "fulfilling his duty, as we are expected to do'' when he was hit.
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