A 23-year-old motorcyclist killed in a crash along Route 31 on Monday evening has been identified as Patrol Officer Robert Sparano of the Bordentown Township Police Department.
The fatal collision occurred around 7:09 p.m. on May 12 near the Interstate 295 interchange when Sparano was off-duty. According to the Hopewell Township Police Department, Sparano was traveling northbound on a Kawasaki motorcycle when he attempted to change lanes and struck the rear of a GMC pickup truck driven by a 26-year-old Hopewell Township man. Sparano was ejected from the motorcycle and pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck was uninjured.
Hopewell Township Police, Pennington Borough Police, Ewing Township Police, Pennington Fire Department, and Capital Health EMS responded to the scene. The crash remains under investigation by Officer Paul Alvaro and Detective Michael Makwinski of the Hopewell Township Police Department, with assistance from the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
Sparano, a recent addition to the Bordentown police force, followed in the footsteps of his father, Robert “Bob” Sparano, who served with the Hopewell Township Police Department for 28 years and retired as a sergeant in 2022.
“The Hopewell Township Police Department extends our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Officer Robert Sparano of the Bordentown Township Police Department,” the department wrote in a public statement. “Robert’s father, Robert ‘Bob’ Sparano, served with the Hopewell Township Police Department for twenty-eight years and retired as Sergeant on May 1, 2022. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family during this difficult time.”
Tributes poured in across social media from police departments throughout New Jersey, elected officials, and members of the public, all mourning Sparano’s passing and recognizing his service. Bordentown Mayor Eric Holliday said Sparano had quickly become a valued and respected member of the department and community.
“His dedication to service, warm spirit, and commitment to protecting others left a lasting impression on both his colleagues and the residents of Bordentown,” Holliday wrote. “Officer Sparano’s service and memory will not be forgotten.”
