A Summit police officer and father a two, who's wife is expecting a third child, was one of two people killed in a crash. Watch video
SUMMIT -- An online fundraiser for the family of Summit police Officer Matthew Tarentino, who was killed in a car crash while driving to work Tuesday morning, has generated more than $70,000 in donations in the first 12 hours.
Tarentino, 29, of Somerville, was driving on I-78 in Bernards when a driver in the westbound lanes crossed the grassy median into the eastbound lanes and crashed into Tarentino's car and another car about 6:20 a.m., State Police said.
The two other drivers were taken to Morristown Medical Center, where one of them subsequently died of their injuries. The identities of the other two drivers have not been released.
The funeral for Tarentino will be at Immaculate Conception Church in Somerville. The viewing will at the church be on Sunday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and a Mass will be Monday at 10 a.m. Arrangements are being handled by the Cusick Funeral Home in Somerville.
Tarentino and his wife, Victoria, have two sons, three-year-old Robert and two-year-old Raymond, and a third child is due in August, the Summit Police Department PAL said on the YouCaring Compassionate Crowdfunding page.
Beloved officer killed in crash was expecting third child
The PAL set a goal of raising $500,000.
"In a tragic accident on Tuesday May 30, 2017, the Summit Police Department and the entire city of Summit lost a valued officer, community member and friend," PAL wrote in the page.
"This loss has greatly affected not only our law enforcement community and the citizens of Summit, but countless people far and wide. Matthew Tarentino epitomized what a law enforcement officer should be: a respected, trusted colleague with unwavering dedication and enthusiasm for his calling," the PAL wrote. "We are asking for donations to help support the family in this time of need and ensure that Officer Tarentino's legacy is never diminished."
Tarentino was a five-year veteran of the police department. He grew up in Somerville, graduated Immaculata High School, attended Catholic University and and graduated from Rutgers University.
He remained active in Immaculate Conception Church in Somerville, and was the current president of the Immaculate Conception School Advisory Council.
Additional information about the cause of the crash has not been released by police.
Tom Haydon may be reached at thaydon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Tom_HaydonSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.