Off-Duty Bordentown Police Officer Killed In Mercer County Motorcycle Crash

MERCER COUNTY, NJ – An off-duty police officer was killed on Monday evening in a motorcycle crash along Route 31.

Patrol Officer Robert Sparano, 23, was from the Bordentown Police Department.

On Monday, around 7:09 PM, Hopewell Police officers were dispatched to Pennington Road (State Highway Route 31) in the area of Interstate 295 for a reported serious crash involving a motorcyclist.

According to initial investigation, Sparano was driving a Kawasaki motorcycle, traveling Northbound on Pennington Road, and attempted to change lanes in the area of the Interstate 295 North off ramp.

The motorcyclist struck the rear of a GMC pickup truck, driven by a 26-year-old Hopewell Township man, which was traveling Northbound in front of the motorcyclist. During impact, Sparano was ejected. As a result of the crash, he succumbed to serious injuries and was pronounced dead, Hopewell police said.

The driver of the GMC pickup was not injured.

Bordentown Township Mayor Eric Holliday released a statement confirming Sparano’s death.

He was a recent addition to the Bordentown Police Department and was following in the footsteps of his father, a dedicated police officer.

His father, Robert “Bob” Sparano served with the Hopewell Township Police Department for 28 years and retired as Sergeant on May 1, 2022.

“His commitment to protecting others was not only a reflection of his own character, but also a continuation of a legacy of service that runs deep in his family,” Holliday said.

“This is a deeply painful loss for our township, and words cannot fully express the grief we share. On behalf of the Township Committee, and the entire Bordentown Community, I extend our deepest condolences to the Sparano family, his friends, and the members of our police department. We stand with you during this incredibly difficult time.”

Sparano graduated from the Mercer County Police Academy in West Windsor and was sworn as an officer in July 2024.

The crash is being investigated by Officer Paul Alvaro and Detective Michael Makwinski of the Hopewell Township Police Department along with detectives from the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.

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