UPDATE: Lloyd Rudley, 61, of Elmer, N.J. has been identified as the driver of the Toyota Corolla that crossed the grass median and struck Trooper Frankie Williams head-on.
Rudley’s car matched witness descriptions of a vehicle that was driving erratically in the area. Trooper Williams was responding to the erratic driver complaint at the time of the crash.
A New Jersey state trooper was killed when a car travelling along the opposite lane lost control, crossed the central median and smashed into his car.
Trooper Frankie Williams was on duty and responding to a call at the time of the collision.
State police said in a statement early Tuesday;
It is with great sadness today that Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police announces the tragic loss of Trooper Frankie Williams #7953, who was killed yesterday in an on-duty crash on State Highway 55 in Millville City.
At 6:59 p.m., in the area of milepost 22.2, a man traveling southbound in his Toyota Corolla crossed the grass median, entered the northbound lanes, and struck the marked troop car head-on. Trooper Williams was traveling northbound responding to a call for service.
The man was pronounced deceased at the scene. Trooper Williams was flown to Cooper University Hospital in Camden where he was pronounced deceased. The exact cause of death for both victims has yet to be determined, and the crash is still under investigation.
Trooper Frankie Williams, 31 years old, of Atlantic County, was a member of the 156th State Police Class, which graduated January 29, 2016. He was assigned to Port Norris Station.
