A roadside memorial honoring a New Jersey state trooper who was killed during a traffic stop in 1992 was severely damaged by a driver under the influence, state police say.
David Neufield, 38, was arrested after police reported that his vehicle veered off Interstate 78 in Union County on August 31 and crashed into the memorial for Trooper Thomas Hanratty. Hanratty was killed at the same location on April 2, 1992, when he was struck by a speeding motorist during a routine traffic stop.
“The crash caused significant damage to the Trooper Hanratty memorial, a solemn reminder of the daily dangers our troopers face while serving and protecting the public,” the New Jersey State Police said in a Facebook post. “This incident underscores the importance of safe and sober driving on our roadways.”
Neufield, who was found to be driving under the influence, was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. In addition to DUI, he was also charged with drug possession.
Trooper Hanratty, 24 at the time of his death, had served with the New Jersey State Police for just over three years. According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, Hanratty was hit while returning to his patrol car after conducting a routine traffic stop.