Victim of deadly crash with State Police cruiser identified

LEBANON — A Bridgewater man has been identified as the driver of an SUV following a collision with a marked State Police vehicle in Hunterdon County on Sunday.

State Police said Larry Helwig, 72 was pronounced dead at the crash on Route 22 at Cokesbury Road. His passenger, Jane Roxbury, 67, of Lebanon was taken to Morristown Medical Center, where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The State Police officer, Trooper Emmanuel Gonzalo, 26, was in a marked Ford Crown Victoria cruiser, headed to a reported crash on nearby Route 78 when he collided with Helwig and Roxbury, according to a preliminary police investigation.

According to a letter to the congregation of Church of the Holy Spirit in LebanonHelwig and Roxbury  were their on their way to an 8 a.m. service. The church minister. "Father Phil," wrote that he left services to administer last rites to Helwig.

The minister wrote that he asked investigators to let Gonzalo know that he would also be in the church's prayers.

The church is hosting an "all parish meeting" on Monday night to remember Helwig.

MyCentralJersey.com reported that Helwig was a retired teacher who taught for 36 years in the Sayreville public schools.

Police said their investigation continues into the crash.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

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