A veteran Trenton police officer died Sunday morning after his vehicle crashed off Interstate 295, the New Jersey State Police said.
Timothy Long, 50, of Trenton, was identified as the person who died, according to a statement issued by police. He was off-duty at the time of the crash.
Long was a police officer in Trenton for 25 years and served as a union official, in the department’s honor guard and as county police academy instructor.
“It’s a shock to us,” said Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson. “Our condolences to his family and the Trenton police family. He was a good man and a good officer.”
Long was driving a Honda SUV north on I-295 in Burlington County when the crash occurred, police said.
Troopers responded at 5:58 a.m. to milepost 45.8 in Westampton Township. Police said Long apparently lost control of the vehicle, “ran off the roadway, struck a traffic sign and a tree, and caught fire.”
Long died as a result of his injuries, police said. The cause of the is under investigation.
Later Sunday, the Trenton Police Department issued a statement lauding his service to the city and the United States Marine Corps.
“New officers gravitated toward him and he coached them with a steady hand, a quick wit, and a good-natured laugh that cut through the tension of the job. As a role model and mentor, he helped shape our department’s culture and set a standard many strive to meet every day,” the statement said.
Stories by Stephanie Loder
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Stephanie Loder may be reached at SLoder@njadvancemedia.com.